NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what IT projects his Department is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of  (a) the cost and  (b) the completion date of each is.

Shaun Woodward: The majority of IT projects are relatively small and are developed in-house with minimum cost. To compile information to support all projects would be at disproportionate cost. Therefore the information within the following table relates only to current approved IT projects which cost in excess of £1 million.
	
		
			  Project name  Estimated cost (£ million)  Completion date 
			 Causeway Programme £61 March 2011 
			 Prisoner Record Information System (PRISM)—Technical Refresh £1.3 March 2010

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press and communications officers are employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) its non-departmental public bodies and  (c) its agencies.

Shaun Woodward: The number of press and communications officers employed by my Department, its non-departmental public bodies and its agencies are contained the following table.
	
		
			   Number of press and communications officers employed 
			 Northern Ireland Office 10 
			 Agencies 4 
			   
			  Non-departmental public bodies  
			 Executive non-departmental public bodies 8 
			 Other public bodies 1 
			 International bodies 1 
			 Total 24

Departmental Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what total cost.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office operates three bonus schemes—special bonuses (to reward particularly meritorious contributions during the year), an end of year bonus for staff below the senior civil service (SCS) (to reward performance and delivery throughout the year), and a bonus scheme for SCS staff which is an integral part of the pay arrangements in operation in all Whitehall and Northern Ireland Departments. Figures are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Special bonuses 2007-08 (paid 2007-08)  End year bonuses 2007-08 (paid 2008-09) 
			 Number of staff 697 409 
			 Total (£) 188,350 609,875

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use his Department has made of Dorneywood for official engagements in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 90-91W, by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson).

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departmental Drinks

Greg Hands: To ask the Solicitor-General what total value of  (a) alcoholic and  (b) non-alcoholic drink was purchased by the Attorney-General's Office in each of the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The total value of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink purchased by the Attorney-General's Office is illustrated in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Alcoholic  Non-alcoholic 
			  2007   
			 September 12.00 3.50 
			 October — — 
			 November — 1,662.63 
			 December 500.05 124.20 
			
			  2008   
			 January 90.45 9.40 
			 February — — 
			 March — — 
			 April — — 
			 May — 163.20 
			 June — — 
			 July — 126.44 
			 August 11.90 2.50 
			 September — —

Departmental Official Cars

Greg Hands: To ask the Solicitor-General what makes and models of Ministerial cars are available to the Law Officers.

Vera Baird: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 8W, given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington, East (Mr. Kemp).

Departmental Recruitment

Lee Scott: To ask the Solicitor-General how many vacant posts in  (a) the Attorney-General's Office and  (b) its agencies were advertised in each of the last three years; and at what cost.

Vera Baird: The following tables show the number of vacant posts advertised by the Attorney-General's Office and its agencies:
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			   Number of posts  Cost (£)  Number of posts  Cost (£)  Number of posts  Cost (£) 
			 Attorney-General's Office 6 (1)30,788 1 (2)29,288 5 (3)107,893 
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department 85 (1)— 154 (2)— — (3)— 
			 Serious Fraud Office 21 42,236.03 39 51,259.07 43 139,667.97 
			 HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 16 29,872.00 18 36,118.24 6 38,666.85 
		
	
	
		
			   2006  2007  2008 to date 
			   Number of posts  Cost (£)  Number of posts  Cost (£)  Number of posts  Cost (£) 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 121 442,267 90 326,960 88 322,504 
			 Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office 67 21,161 33 45,931 40 60,576 
			  Note: The Departments runs general recruitment campaigns from time to time, for which the number of posts advertised is not always specified. These campaigns have been reflected in the above information where the figures are available. (1, 2, 3): Answers in all cases apply to both Attorney-General's Office and Treasury Solicitor's Department

Departmental Standards

Greg Hands: To ask the Solicitor-General what gateway reviews were conducted in the Attorney-General's Office in each of the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: None.

Departmental Training

David Davies: To ask the Solicitor-General how much the Attorney-General's Office spent on external training courses for departmental staff in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008; and which external organisations were paid by the Department to provide such courses in each year.

Vera Baird: The cost of external courses broken down by financial year is illustrated in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Organisation  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Advance Training and Consultancy — — — 2,700.00 
			 Alba 295.00 — — — 
			 ASLIB/IMI 70.50 — — — 
			 Birkbeck College — — — 600.00 
			 Cambridge Constabulary 40.00 — — — 
			 Centrex 53.00 — — — 
			 Charted Institute of Lib and Info Profession 460.00 — — — 
			 Circle of State Librarians 395.00 — — — 
			 D. J. Howarth — — — 1,173.00 
			 DOD'S Parliamentary Communications — — 480.00 480.00 
			 ERA — — — 420.70 
			 FOI Live Conference Office — — 375.00 440.63 
			 Fraud Advisory Panel — — — 120.00 
			 G. Navana — 64.35 — — 
			 GCB 350.00 — — — 
			 Germain Academic Exchange Service — — 50.00 — 
			 Govenetx Ltd. — 145.00 — — 
			 Govnet Communications 149.00 — — — 
			 Hemsley Fraser Training Group 779.00 — — — 
			 IAP Paris — — 526.39 392.73 
			 ICC Ltd. 425.01 — — — 
			 Kings College London — 150.00 200.00 200.00 
			 Lemos and Crane 345.00 — — — 
			 LexisNexis Europe Ltd. 541.58 — 1,136.60 349.00 
			 McNiel Robertson Partners 1,372.20 — — — 
			 National Archive 535.00 — — — 
			 National Security and Advice Centre — 361.70 — — 
			 Neil Stewart Assc 395.00 395.00 — — 
			 Parliamentary Communications 580.00 — — — 
			 Private and Data Protection — — — 1,100.75 
			 St. John Ambulance 305.00 610.00 110.00 777.50 
			 Sweet and Maxwell Ltd. 1,840.00 2,185.00 1,850.00 350.00 
			 TFPL Ltd. 1,780.00 — — — 
			 The Bar Council 325.00 — — — 
			 The Campaign for Freedom of Information — — 200.00 — 
			 The Centre for Corporate Accountability — 70.00 — — 
			 The Solicitor Group — — — 257.45 
			 The Whitehall and Industry Group 65.00 — — — 
			 The Complete Support Group — — 714.00 — 
			 UKAEL 200.00 — — — 
			 University of Cambridge — — 170.00 — 
			 University of Liverpool 750.00 — — — 
			 University of Oxford 125.00 — — — 
			 Total 12,175.29 3,981.05 5,811.99 9,361.76

Domestic Violence: Hampshire

Maria Miller: To ask the Solicitor-General how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions for offences related to domestic violence there were in Hampshire in each of the last 10 years.

Vera Baird: The following table shows the domestic violence prosecutions that have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Earlier figures have not been provided, as the CPS's records on domestic violence prosecutions are considered as complete and reliable only from 2005-06.
	
		
			   Convictions  Unsuccessful outcomes  
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Total prosecutions 
			 2005-06 1,032 64.2 575 35.8 1,607 
			 2006-07 1,383 68.3 642 31.7 2,025 
			 2007-08 1,691 68.3 785 31.7 2,476

Plain English

David Davies: To ask the Solicitor-General how many documents produced by the Attorney-General's Office were submitted to the Plain English Campaign for approval for Crystal Mark status in each year since 2005; and how many documents achieved such status in each year.

Vera Baird: Records are not held by the Attorney-General's Office on documents submitted to the Plain English Campaign.

Sentencing

Don Touhig: To ask the Solicitor-General how many charges brought by the police were downgraded to a lesser charge by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The records maintained by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) comprise information at defendant level rather than at specific charge level, and include no data on amendments made to charges during the life of criminal proceedings. To obtain this information, by reference to individual case files, would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

Sentencing

Don Touhig: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions sought by the police were not proceeded with by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The decision not to proceed with a prosecution may be taken either by way of a pre-charge decision, or after a defendant has been charged and proceedings have commenced.
	The following table shows the number of defendants whose cases were referred to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Areas for a pre-charge decision in the 12 months ending 30 September 2008. The table includes an analysis of the decisions taken by the CPS, broken down into those in which the decision was to bring charges, and all other pre-charge decisions.
	The table also shows the number of defendants whose cases were completed during the same period, together with the number and the proportion that resulted in a conviction and in an unsuccessful outcome. Within those resulting in an unsuccessful outcome, the table shows separately the number and proportion in which the CPS decided, on consideration of the evidence and the public interest, that a prosecution should not proceed.
	
		
			  Table 1: Pre-charge decisions October 2007-September 2008 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Decisions to charge 307,924 56.7 
			 All other pre-charge decisions of which 234,677 43.3 
			 Finalised by decision (comprises: simple cautions, conditional cautions, reprimand, final warnings and those offence(s) taken into consideration in relation to other charges) 22,644 4.2 
			 Incomplete cases 5,651 1.0 
			 No prosecution—evidential 137,768 25.4 
			 No prosecution—public interest 11,566 2.1 
			 Finalised administratively 36,245 6.7 
			 Other 20,803 3.8% 
			 Total 542,601  
			  Notes: 1. Decisions to charge: where the CPS decided that a defendant should be charged. 2. Finalised by decision: where a caution; a conditional caution; a reprimand; or a final warning was given; or where the offence(s) was taken into consideration in relation to other charges. 3. Incomplete cases: those where further information or action is requested or deemed necessary. 4. No prosecution: where a decision was taken not to prosecute. 5. Finalised administratively: cases not returned to CPS for a decision, including those where the defendant failed to answer to bail and a warrant remained outstanding. 6. Other: includes cases where the outcome of the charging process was not correctly recorded 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Prosecution outcomes October 2007-September 2008 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Convictions 905,230 86.1 
			 Total unsuccessful outcomes 145,817 13.9 
			  O f which:   
			 Not proceeded with 98,648 9.4 
			 Total 1,051,047

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Diseases

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the changes in mean surface temperature on the number of flystrike cases reported this  (a) summer and  (b) autumn.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 29 October 2008
	Flystrike is not a notifiable disease and as such farmers are not obliged to report cases to Animal Health. The number of submissions to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) are very small and therefore any conclusions drawn from these figures would be unreliable as they are not reflective of the incidence of flystrike.
	Flystrike occurs annually in most UK sheep flocks, the incidence being highest in warm and humid areas of South West England. It is estimated that about 12,000 sheep die each year in the UK as a result of flystrike (NADIS report, 2005). Flystrike is a major welfare concern and an important cause of ill thrift in affected animals. Furthermore, the disease results in economically significant fleece and hide damage.
	An article by leading experts, J. M. Broughan and R. Wall (2007) following a study in South West England during 2002-03 indicated that flystrike was associated with higher mean temperatures among other variables. The article concluded that an increase average ambient temperature was likely to increase the incidence of flystrike.

Bees: Disease Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the additional funding made available to the National Bee Health Unit has been allocated for research into alternative treatments for the varroa mite.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 29 October 2008
	The additional funding allocated to the National Bee Unit this year was directed at expanding investigations into cases of abnormal colony losses for which there is no ready explanation and to meet demand for increased inspections of bee imports consequential to colony losses.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department took to encourage uptake for the bluetongue vaccination.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 29 October 2008
	DEFRA worked in partnership with the industry to create a strategy for voluntary vaccination, and ensured the availability of vaccine. DEFRA has always encouraged vaccination as the only effective way for individuals to protect the welfare of their animals and their own livelihood. Ministers and the chief veterinary officer have emphasised the importance of vaccinating against bluetongue in the media and in meetings with the industry. DEFRA also supported the industry-led Joint Action Against Bluetongue (JAB) communications campaign which promoted the benefits of vaccinating against bluetongue (under the "Don't hesitate, vaccinate" banner), and highlighted the risks of not doing so.
	DEFRA backed up these messages through a communications campaign which ran throughout the summer, using the farming press and local channels such as roadshows and Animal Health communications to stress the importance of vaccination.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants working in his Department and its agencies have pensions with a cash equivalent transfer value of over £1 million.

Huw Irranca-Davies: It is not appropriate to disclose pension information for civil servants other than board members whose details are shown in the Remuneration Report in annual Resource Accounts. A copy of the Department's Resource Accounts for financial year 2007-08 can be found in the Library or accessed electronically using the following link:
	http://defraweb/corporate/finance/resource-accounts/accounts0708/resourceaccounts-0708.pdf#page=27

Inland Waterways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many residential moorings are registered by the Environment Agency; what their locations are; and how many boats can be moored at each location.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency does not maintain a register of known residential moorings or information about other boats other than house boats used for residential purposes. As residential use is a matter for the local planning authority, the agency advises these authorities if it detects a potential change of land use from leisure to residential purposes.

National Forest Estate

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the review of the Forest District Strategic Plans on the National Forest Estate to meet the objectives of the revised English Forestry Strategy.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Forestry Commission is reviewing its approach to Forest District Strategic Plans so that their revision, which is expected to be undertaken in 2009, takes into account changes in national and regional policy, including the Strategy for England's Trees, Woods and Forests.

New Forest National Park Authority

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed in the New Forest National Park Environmental Design Department; and how many of them are  (a) architects,  (b) have another professional design qualification and  (c) are unqualified in environmental design.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I understand that the New Forest National Park Authority employs three members of staff whose principal role includes environmental design matters. One has a BSc Honours in Construction, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Conservation; one is a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) qualified Architect, no longer registered; and the third has a Post Graduate Diploma in Building Conservation. In addition these officers draw on advice from the authority's qualified arboriculturalists and Landscape Officer as necessary.

Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of which of his Department's public service agreements rural proofing of departmental policies is stipulated.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA leads on one cross-government public service agreement (PSA)—to secure a healthy natural environment for today and the future. DEFRA has signed up as a formal delivery partner for the following six PSAs:
	Olympics;
	Housing;
	Child Poverty;
	Regional Economic Performance;
	International Poverty Reduction; and
	Counter-terrorism.
	It is a requirement for all new policies and programmes to be subject to an impact assessment which includes rural proofing.

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid to regional development agencies for implementation of the Rural Development Programme for England.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The regional development agencies assumed responsibility for delivery of the social-economic measures of the Rural Development Programme for England from 1 October 2006. RDA operating costs for delivering the RDPE are funded by DEFRA. The amounts set out as follows have been transferred to RDAs:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1 October 2006-31 March 2007 1,806,098 
			 1 April 2007-31 March 2008 3,671,036 
			 1 April 2008-31 March 2009 4,950,000

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what projects have been approved for the Rural Development Programme for England; on what date each was approved; and by which regional development agency in each case.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The following table provides details of the projects approved by regional development agencies since the programme was opened for applications under the socio-economic measures:
	
		
			  Regional development a gency  Project/Programme  Date approved 
			 Advantage West Midlands Certainly Wood 28 August 2008 
			  RDPE Action Plan for Tourism and Leisure 15 May 2008 
			  RDPE Action Plan for Food and Drink 15 May 2008 
			  RDPE Action Plan for Livestock 15 May 2008 
			  RDPE Action Plan for Environmental Technologies 15 May 2008 
			  The Leader Approach for the West Midlands (preliminary expenditure) 28 February 2008 
			  The Leader Approach for the West Midlands (Programme approval) 28 February 2008 
			
			 East of England Development Agency Agri-Food Skills—Coordination project 19 June 2008 
			  Agri-Food Skills—Vocational Skills 19 June 2008 
			  Agri-Food Skills—Higher Level skills 19 June 2008 
			  Radwinter Game Handling Facility 5 June 2008 
			  Woburn Country Foods 9 June 2008 
			  Camgrain Advanced Processing Centre 4 January 2008 
			  Regional Woodfuel Supply Chain 6 August 2008 
			  Chilterns Cross-Border LAG 23 June 2008 
			  Greensand Ridge 21 May 2008 
			  The Eastern Plateau 21 May 2008 
			  Brecks 21 May 2008 
			  Waveney Valley 21 May 2008 
			  North Norfolk Coast and Broads 21 May 2008 
			  Fens Adventurers Partnership 21 May 2008 
			
			 East Midlands Development Agency Bolsover and North East Derbyshire 28 January 2008 
			  Coastal Action Zone Partnership 28 January 2008 
			  Lindsey Action Zone 28 January 2008 
			  Peak District Rural Action Zone 28 January 2008 
			  Acrelands 8 June 2008 
			  Biomass Glasshouse heating system 5 September 2008 
			  Bluebell Dairy 8 August 2008 
			  Centre of Renewable Energy 30 April 2008 
			  Provision of Production Unit Niche and Novel Crops 4 June 2008 
			  Pump Farm Day Nursery 18 April 2008 
			  Restoration of Coneygre Farm Quarry 2 September 2008 
			  Rural Holiday Let and Work/Studio area 18 July 2008 
			  South Rauceby Water Reservoir 14 October 2008 
			  Sustainable Water Resource Management System 1 July 2008 
			  Thorpe Latimer Farm Shop and Butchery 6 August 2008 
			  Woldgrain Integrated Combined Crop Storage 23 October 2008 
			
			 North West Development Agency Livestock Programme Cumbria 22 July 2008 
			  Fells and Dales Leader group 23 June 2008 
			  Solway Borders and Eden Leader group 23 June 2008 
			  Centralised Grains Store feasibility study 22 August 2008 
			
			 One North East  Programmes  
			  Micro-enterprise Development 14 April 2008 
			  LANTRA 5 June 2008 
			  Bio-energy supply chains 22 April 2008 
			  Community and Business Assets 7 October 2008 
			   Projects  
			  Wheelbirks ice cream 23 September 2008 
			  Cold Storage facilities 15 April 2008 
			  Catering Butchery 7 October 2008 
			  Egg processing and packaging 28 August 2008 
			   LEADER—4 Local Action Groups 20 May 2008 
			
			 South East England Development Agency Lidsey Reservoir 21 April 2008 
			  Style Place Farm Reservoir 21 April 2008 
			  Rbat/Lantra Consortium training project (Landskills SE) 21 April 2008 
			  Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Chilterns Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Lodden and Eversley Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Isle of Wight Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Kent Downs and Marshes Leader 8 May 2008 
			  New Forest Leader 8 May 2008 
			  North Wessex Downs Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Surrey Hills Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Sussex Downs and Low Weald Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Three Harbours and a Coastal Plain Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Wealden and Rother Rural Partnership Leader 8 May 2008 
			  West Kent Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Winchester and South Downs Leader 8 May 2008 
			  Hidden Britain South East 29 May 2008 
			  Coldharbour Farm Diversification 29 May 2008 
			  Mansfields Fruit Packing and Storage Project 29 May 2008 
			  South Oxfordshire Leader 22 July 2008 
			  Livestock Health South East training 31 July 2008 
			  Bowley Farm Irrigation Project 31 July 2008 
			  Rough House Farm Reservoir 31 July 2008 
			  Colne Valley Park LAG 31 July 2008 
			  Newmafruit Fruit Storage and Packing Project 19 September 2008 
			  Weald Granary Grain Storage 8 October 2008 
			  Whalley Forestry machinery 8 October 2008 
			  Torrey Hill Forestry Centre 8 October 2008 
			
			 South West of England Development Agency VTS Extension 2008-09 R of R 50 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS Extension R of R 50 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS Extension 2008-09 R of R 100 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS Extension 2008-09 R of R 100 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS Extension R of R 50 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS extension Cornwall 50 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS Extension 2008-09 Cornwall 100 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  VTS Extension 2008-09 Cornwall 100 per cent. 15 July 2008 
			  South West Rural Development Gateway R of R 50 per cent. 22 April 2008 
			  South West Rural Development Gateway Cornwall 50 per cent. 22 April 2008 
			  South West Rural Development Gateway R of R 100 per cent. 22 April 2008 
			  South West Rural Development Gateway Cornwall 100 per cent. 22 April 2008 
			  South West Rural Development Gateway R of R 75 per cent. 22 April 2008 
			  South West Rural Development Gateway Cornwall 75 per cent. 22 April 2008 
			  Sustainable Woodlands South West—R of R 22 September 2008 
			  CPDS 111 Devon 7 October 2008 
			  CPDS 111 Gloucestershire 7 October 2008 
			  CPDS 111 Somerset 7 October 2008 
			  CPDS 111 Wiltshire 7 October 2008 
			  CPDS 111 Cornwall 7 October 2008 
			  CPDS 111 Dorset 7 October 2008 
			  Sustainable Woodlands South West—Cornwall 22 September 2008 
			  111 SWHLI Blue Tongue Cornwall 17 June 2008 
			  SWHLI Regional Advisory Panel—RoR—VM 3 June 2008 
			  111 SWHLI Blue Tongue VM 17 June 2008 
			  SWHLI Regional Advisory Panel—Cornwall 3 June 2008 
			
			 Yorkshire forward The Coniston Shooting Ground and Golf Target/Archery Range Facilities and Customer Care Project December 2007 
			  Hutchinson Roots Farm Shop December 2007 
			  YAS Growing Routes December 2007 
			  Nostell Estate Office Conversion December 2007 
			  Sutton Art Gallery December 2007 
			  North Country Primestock Yorkshire Provenance Lamb February 2008 
			  Price Dales Mountain Biking February 2008 
			  Gemmell Clayton Hall Farm AD February 2008 
			  Critchlow Dependable Productions Expansion February 2008 
			  Burton/Yorkshire Farmers Yorkshire Outdoor Pork February 2008 
			  Muntons Malt Supply Chain Ltd. February 2008 
			  Hydrodemolition and Surface Preparation Using Robotic Techniques February 2008 
			  Upper Denby DC Ltd. February 2008 
			  Eggsell Supply Chain February 2008 
			  Lyke Wake Walk Room at Ryedale Folk Museum February 2008 
			  Share to Farm February 2008 
			  Learning To Listen Development Plan June 2008 
			  Hinchliffe's Butchers June 2008 
			  Retro Ice Cream Parlour with adjoining Seattle-style Coffee Shop June 2008 
			  Developing Givendale Prime Beef Brand June 2008 
			  Ames Forestry Contracting June 2008 
			  Drewton Manor Biomass Installation August 2008 
			  Eastern Dales Visitor Centre—feasibility study March 2008 
			  Westfields Livery July 2008 
			  Robinsons Farm Shop July 2008 
			  Free Range Eggs fron Great Ayton July 2008 
			  Chilburne Spring Expansion September 2008 
			  St. Quintins Dairy September 2008 
			  Godbold Blacksmith Expansion September 2008 
			  Hare's Leap Farm Shop and Game Dealer September 2008 
			  Broom House Guesthouse Expansion September 2008 
			  Platt Potato Infrastructure September 2008 
			  Forward Farming Storage September 2008 
			  Tomlinson Potato Marketing—Whole Crop Marketing September 2008 
			  Crowtrees Park Golf Course September 2008 
			  Wharfe Valley Oils expansion September 2008 
			  Birkwood Plant Training September 2008 
			  Farmer Copleys Shop Expansion and Internet Venture September 2008 
			  Expansion of Keighley Tree Services September 2008 
			  Anaerobic digestion feasibility study at Langlands Farm Farexchange September 2008 
			  Brookfield Wind Turbine July 2008 
			  Hey Wind Turbine July 2008 
			  Caville Hall water harvesting July 2008 
			  Platts Rainwater Harvesting and Slurry Separation July 2008 
			  Sharp slurry separator July 2008 
			  Ewedale Model Village August 2008 
			  Yorkshire Energy Solutions August 2008 
			  Ryedale Vineyards Winery August 2008 
			  Choc-affair August 2008 
			  Flying shavings September 2008 
			  Marton cum Grafton Village Shop September 2008 
			  Farm Resource Efficiency Programme March 2008 
			  Rural Business Start-Up April 2008 
			  Rural Retail Programme September 2008 
			  LandSkills March 2008

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which projects approved for Rural Development Programme for England funding have yet to receive their funding; and on what date they are likely to receive funding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: For socio-economic projects under Axis 1 and 3 of the Rural Development Programme for England, payments are made on the basis of claims submitted by project holders and in arrears of eligible expenditure made. A schedule of claims is agreed with each project holder as part of the project. It follows that payments will not be made at the time a project is approved by a Regional Development Agency.

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many projects each regional development agency has funded under the  (a) Axis 1,  (b) Axis 3 and  (c) Leader sections of the England Rural Development Programme since 1 January 2007, broken down by projects budgeted at (i) up to £5,000, (ii) £5,001 to £100,000, (iii) £100,001 to £1,000,000 and (iv) over £1,000,000.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Commitments to new projects under Axis 1, 3 and the Leader Axis of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) only commenced in January 2008 following EU approval of the new programme. Since 1 October 2006, payments have also been made by regional development agencies (RDAs) to projects that were the legacy of the previous England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), funding for which came from the new RDPE budget. That programme closed for new applications in June 2006.
	It should also be noted that the RDAs are using a strategic investment approach to delivering the new programme, which includes supporting larger programmes of activity as well as individual projects. Some of the larger programmes will result in further project development and funding.
	The following table gives the information on projects which have received, or been approved, for funding, and includes ERDP legacy payments made after 1 January 2007.
	
		
			  Regional development agency   Up to £5,000  £5,001-£100,000  £100,001-£1 million  £1 million + 
			 Advantage West Midlands Axis 1 17 29 6 0 
			  Axis 3 18 92 7 0 
			  Leader — — — — 
			   
			 East of England Development Agency Axis 1 11 22 7 4 
			  Axis 3 1 27 5 0 
			  Leader 0 0 1 6 
			   
			 East Midlands Development Agency Axis 1 16 28 8 1 
			  Axis 3 9 42 9 0 
			  Leader 0 0 0 4 
			   
			 North West Development Agency Axis 1 12 35 8 3 
			  Axis 3 9 32 2 0 
			  Leader 0 0 0 2 
			   
			 One North East Axis 1 5 14 7 2 
			  Axis 3 2 45 9 2 
			  Leader 0 0 0 4 
			   
			 South East England Development Agency Axis 1 11 38 13 1 
			  Axis 3 0 41 5 0 
			  Leader 0 0 0 14 
			   
			 South West of England Development Agency Axis 1 2 18 22 1 
			  Axis 3 1 20 10 0 
			  Leader 0 0 1 14 
			   
			 Yorkshire Forward Axis 1 0 32 9 2 
			  Axis 3 9 69 9 1 
			  Leader 0 6 0 6

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much each regional development agency has committed to projects under  (a) Axis 1,  (b) Axis 3 and  (c) Leader sections of the England Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) since 1 January 2007, broken down by projects budgeted at (i) up to £5,000, (ii) £5,001 to £100,000, (iii) £100,001 to £1,000,000 and (iv) over £1,000,000; and what proportion of each total represents forward commitments for years three to seven of RDPE.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Commitments to new projects under Axis 1, 3 and the Leader Axis of the Rural Development Programme for England only commenced in January 2008 following EU approval of the new programme. Since 1 October 2006, payments have also been made by regional development agencies to projects that were the legacy of the previous England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), funding for which came from the new RDPE budget. That programme closed for new applications in June 2006.
	The following table gives the information requested and includes legacy commitments made since 1 January 2007. The figures in brackets give the percentage (rounded) of the commitment to be paid in programme years 2009-13.
	
		
			  Regional Development Agency   Up to £5000  (%)  £5001 -£100,000  (%)  £100,001 -£1 million  (%)  £1 million +  (%) 
			 Advantage West Midlands Axis 1 42,458 0 1,455,637 8 3,922,002 21 0  
			  Axis 3 25,562 0 4,650,208 2 3,270.059 0 1,052,441 0 
			  Leader 0  0  0  0  
			 East of England Development Agency Axis 1 0  58,026 53 611,565 82 11,630,023 93 
			  Axis 3 0  4,122 1 46,313 0 0  
			  Leader 0  0  0  20,100,000 99 
			 East Midlands Development Agency Axis 1 21,950 0 849,080 25 2,598,363 0 1,487,205  
			  Axis 3 26,602 0 1,130,369 2 1,165,546 39 0  
			  Leader 0  0  0  7,980,300 100 
			 North West Development Agency Axis 1 26,231 0 907,641 0 2,107,641 52 5,400,000 93 
			  Axis 3 19,881 0 862,124 0 25,920 0 0  
			  Leader 0  0  0  3,200,000 94 
			 One North East Axis 1 9000 11 643,000 87 1,480,000 81 2,370,000 100 
			  Axis 3 5000 0 1,874,000 0 1,235,000 12 3,350,000 100 
			  Leader 0  0  0  4,500,000 100 
			 South East England Development Agency Axis 1 23,654 0 1,641,631 15 4,298,306 23 2,400,000 70 
			  Axis 3 0  1,664,803 3 735,777 10 0  
			  Leader 0  0  0  29,400,000 92 
			 South West of England Development Agency Axis 1 21,456 0 716,777 7 4,791,564 50 1,086,018 54 
			  Axis 3 20,452 0 1,162,532 10 689,143 9 0  
			  Leader 0  0  500,000 100 32,550,000 100 
			 Yorkshire Forward Axis 1 0  890,000 52 2,420,000 68 4,860,000 83 
			  Axis 3 3000 100 1,830,000 50 1,690,000 27 3,620,000 79 
			  Leader 0  110,000 0 0  16,000,000 100

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much each regional development agency has received from the Regional Development Programme for England since the inception of the 2000 to 2006 programme, broken down by programme year.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The 2000-06 England Rural Development Programme was delivered by the then DEFRA Rural Development Service and, as such, no funding under that programme was allocated to regional development agencies (RDAs). Since 1 October 2006, RDAs have taken over delivery of the legacy spend on ERDP schemes which closed to new applicants in 2006.

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which projects have received Rural Development Programme for England funding since 1 January 2007, broken down by regional development agency.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of projects funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) since 1 January 2007 includes both new projects and programmes approved by regional development agencies, as well as projects that were the legacy of the previous England Rural Development Programme, thus amounting to over 1,000 projects.
	Details of all projects receiving funding through rural development programmes will be published annually on the DEFRA website, and those projects funded from 1 January 2007 to 15 October 2007 (linked to the European Community's financial year) can be found at
	www.cap-payments.defra.gov.uk.

Satellites

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what use his Department makes of data obtained from earth observation satellites; and what payment is made for such data, where applicable.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA and its delivery bodies use high resolution satellite data for the verification of agricultural subsidy claims under the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). The data used are supplied directly by the European Commission so there is no cost to the Department.
	DEFRA also uses satellite data as part of the UK Countryside Survey in order to produce a national Land Cover Map. The Land Cover Map is a partnership project between DEFRA, the Natural Environment Research Council and the devolved Administrations. Some of the satellite data for the Land Cover Map are provided free of charge by the European Commission. DEFRA and partners have agreed a budget of £110,000 for the purchase of additional data.
	Satellite derived data are also used on an ad-hoc basis in various research projects funded by DEFRA. DEFRA does not hold data centrally on the costs of the satellite data used within these research projects.

Smuggling: Wildlife

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to combat the illegal trade in wildlife over the internet.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In the UK, the Government are working with the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), HM Revenue and Customs and the police to establish the extent of trade taking place over the internet that is illegal, and to find effective ways to tackle this. The issue is one of five priority areas for consideration by the NWCU as part of its delivery of obligations to assist the Government to apply the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Additionally, DEFRA has been working with the trade, website owners, enforcement experts and other stakeholders to establish a Code of Practice for internet providers and users.
	The issue, however, transcends borders and we believe a global approach is required. The UK was instrumental in proposing that CITES convenes a special workshop to consider the issue, and provided funds for this to occur. I am pleased to report that this meeting will take place next February in Canada. The workshop will review what is known about the scale and nature of illegal internet trade in wildlife globally and then consider ways to tackle illegal activity there. In addition to providing financial support to the workshop we have also contributed evidence of our current knowledge of illegal wildlife trade over the internet.

South West Water Authority

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2423W, on the South West Water Authority, 
	(1)  whether regions other than the South West maintain residual water authorities;
	(2)  what residual matters relating to the South West Water Authority have yet to be resolved; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The South West water authority is the only remaining residual water authority in England and Wales.
	The only residual matter preventing the winding up of the South West water authority is the incident which occurred at the Lowermoor Water Treatment Works in July 1988. The authority will not be wound up until the Government are satisfied that any outstanding matters relating to that incident have been resolved.

Water Supply

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to create a national water grid within the UK.

Jane Kennedy: A good deal of water is already transferred within water companies' areas of operation to give individual companies greater flexibility to meet local shortages. Longer distance links have long been established between, for example, Wales and the West Midlands and South East Lancashire, the Lake District and Lancashire, and from the Fenland watercourses to Essex.
	The idea of a national grid system for water was discussed at the Secretary of State's Water Meeting during summer 2006 attended by representatives from across the water industry.
	There was unanimous agreement that a national water grid was not feasible due to its disproportionate and unjustified cost, both for the environment and for water bills, compared with its possible benefits.
	This view is underpinned in the Environment Agency report 'Do we need large-scale water transfers for south-east England?', which was published in September 2006. The report found no evidence for the need for such large-scale transfer and was considered to be more expensive and environmentally damaging than the measures already in the south-east water companies' water resources plans.
	The Environment Agency, in consultation with Ofwat, is able to propose to a water company that it enters into a bulk supply agreement with another water company, where it is necessary to secure the proper use of water resources.

TREASURY

Financial Markets

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect of turbulence in the financial markets on the economy.

Stephen Timms: The Government will update their forecasts for the UK and world economies in the forthcoming pre-Budget report as normal, based on all relevant factors.

Public Borrowing

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he plans to increase public borrowing over the next 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: The Chancellor of the Exchequer will provide an update on the Government's fiscal position, including forecasts for the public finances, in the autumn pre-Budget report.

Public Borrowing

Julian Brazier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely impact of recession on Government borrowing.

Yvette Cooper: The Chancellor of the Exchequer will provide an update on the Government's economic and fiscal forecasts in the autumn pre-Budget report.

Banking System

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission an independent inquiry into the causes of the recent turbulence in the banking system.

Ian Pearson: The on-going turbulence has affected financial markets around the world and requires an international response. In April this year the Financial Stability Forum provided the G7 with a detailed report on the causes of the crisis and a comprehensive set of recommendations for strengthening the financial system for the future. Going forwards, the FSF should continue to play a central role in shaping the international response to the crisis.

Bank Recapitalisation

Lyn Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the policies of banks which have been recapitalised with public funds on providing credit to small businesses.

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the policies of banks which have been recapitalised with public funds on providing credit to small businesses.

Ian Pearson: The measures that the Government announced on 8 and 13 of October included agreements with the banks who used the Bank Reconstruction Fund that over the next three years they would maintain the availability and active marketing of competitively-priced lending to small businesses at 2007 levels.

Small Businesses

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward measures to reduce the burden of tax on small businesses.

Ian Pearson: The Government have acted in recent weeks to provide support to small businesses, including aiming to make payments to small businesses within 10 days. The measures that the Government announced on 8 and 13 October included agreements with the banks who used the Bank Reconstruction Fund that over the next three years they would maintain the availability and active marketing of competitively priced lending to small businesses at 2007 levels.
	The Government keeps all taxes under review and considers fiscal measures as part of the PBR and Budget process.

Small Businesses

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent fiscal steps he has taken to assist small businesses in the current economic situation.

Stephen Timms: In addition to the measures set out in the 2008 Enterprise Strategy, Government have announced a package to help smaller businesses including:
	£350 million to support smaller employers to train their workforces;
	A target to pay suppliers as soon as possible and within 10 days;
	Free "Health Checks" for businesses through Business Link;
	Provision of new finance guides produced by the Institute of Credit Management.

Repossessions

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on the housing market of the repossession policies of those banks in public ownership.

Yvette Cooper: On 8 October this year the Government announced a package of measures to support stability of the financial system, protect ordinary consumers and businesses, and to safeguard the interests of the taxpayer.
	As part of their investment, the Government agreed a range of commitments with the banks supported by the recapitalisation scheme.
	These include agreements to help individuals struggling with their mortgage payments stay in their homes.

Government Expenditure

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce unnecessary expenditure across Government.

Yvette Cooper: Having already secured more than £23 billion of efficiency gains through the Gershon Efficiency Programme, Departments and local authorities are currently working to deliver a further £30 billion package of cash-releasing savings, releasing resources for investment in our core public services.
	The Operational Efficiency Programme and Public Value Programme, launched earlier this year, are exploring the scope for further savings to ensure taxpayers receive maximum value for money.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the potential for early intervention is taken into account across all spending decisions in the next Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Treasury prioritise a diverse range of policy pressures at each Spending Review. In the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, and subsequently (for example in the Children's Plan), Government have expanded investment in early intervention. This includes further investment in Children's Centres and the free early education offer, and on initiative such as Family Nurse Partnerships; Family Intervention Projects; and Targeted Youth Support.

Bank Services: Small Businesses

Nick Palmer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the policies on providing credit to small businesses of banks which have been recapitalised with public funds.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor gave the hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig) on the Floor of the House earlier today.

Banks

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what day he expects the share subscriptions and share placings relating to the £9 billion preference shares and the £28 billion of ordinary shares in HBOS plc, Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and Lloyds TSB Group plc by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to be completed.

Ian Pearson: The firms are currently finalising their timetable for the shareholder approval and subsequent share issue.

Corporation Tax: Small Businesses

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when his most recent estimate of the predicted additional Exchequer revenue from the phased increase of the small companies rate of corporation tax is for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the additional Exchequer revenue likely to accrue from the phased increase of the small companies rate of corporation tax from 19 per cent. to 22 per cent. in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09 and  (c) 2009-10.

Stephen Timms: In line with the Code for Fiscal Stability, at Budget 2007 the Government published the impact on Exchequer revenues of the increase in the small companies rate for the years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. These can be found in Table 1.2 of the Budget 2007 document.
	The forecasts of receipts of corporation tax will be updated in the pre-Budget report.

Corporation Tax: Small Businesses

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies paying the small companies rate of corporation tax which paid annual corporation tax payments in the range of  (a) £0 to £10,000,  (b) £10,001 to £20,000,  (c) £20,001 to £30,000,  (d) £30,001 to £40,000,  (e) £40,001 to £50,000 and  (f) £50,001 and above in each of the last four years;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies paying the small companies rate of corporation tax which are expected to pay annual corporation tax payments to the Treasury in the range of  (a) £0 to £10,000,  (b) £10,001 to £20,000,  (c) £20,001 to £30,000,  (d) £30,001 to £40,000,  (e) £40,001 to £50,000 and  (f) £50,001 and above in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Stephen Timms: Published National Statistics showing the total number of companies paying at the Small Companies' Rate are available for 1998-99 to 2005-06:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate tax/11-3-corporation-tax.pdf
	National statistics depicting the total number of taxpayers by size of liability are also available for 1998-99 to 2005-06:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate tax/table11-6.xls
	This table is not available for companies paying the small companies rate only. Updates of both tables for liabilities due in the financial year 2006-07 will be published on 31 October 2008.
	Corporation Tax receipts are forecast on an aggregate basis and published in the Budget and pre-Budget reports. It is not possible to provide a separate forecast for numbers and amounts at small companies rate.

Departmental Committees

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what external representatives sit on each of his Department's committees.

Angela Eagle: Membership of Treasury's Board and its committees is detailed in Treasury's Annual Report. The most recent annual report may be found at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/5121.htm
	Subsequent to the publication of the report, three new independent members have been appointed to the Treasury Board—Dame Deirdre Hutton CBE, Sir Callum McCarthy and Michael O'Higgins. Dame Deirdre, Sir Callum and Michael succeed Sir Peter Gershon CBE and Sir David Varney, who have stepped down after reaching the end of their terms, and Stella Manzie CBE, who is now Director General Finance and Corporate Services in the Scottish Executive. More information on the appointments may be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_87_08.htm. The non-executive members of Treasury's Board do not represent other organisations. Further details about Treasury committees—including advisory groups and other bodies—may be found on its website
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

Gift Aid

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance HM Revenue and Customs have issued on the eligibility of small charities for gift aid.

Stephen Timms: HMRC has recently updated its customer guidance on gift aid, available via HMRC and DirectGov websites.
	HMRC has also launched the gift aid toolkit, containing clear, basic guidance, templates, an interactive claim form and other materials to help charities get started with and use gift aid. The toolkit will be promoted by HMRC and statutory charity regulators ensuring that as many small charities as possible find out about the toolkit and can obtain a copy.

Halifax Bank of Scotland: Yorkshire

Linda Riordan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made, together with Yorkshire Forward, in safeguarding HBOS jobs in Halifax.

Ian Pearson: Following a meeting with the Chancellor, Yorkshire Forward has convened a taskforce to begin work co-ordinating the region's response to potential job losses in the financial services sector. This taskforce includes representatives from the region's financial services industry, local authority chief executives, the TUC and regional skills experts.
	As this is a commercial decision for Lloyds TSB and HBOS, Yorkshire Forward can only await shareholder ratification. However, Yorkshire Forward is making Halifax's, and the wider regional case, to both banks in meetings and has also produced a commercial case which demonstrates the critical mass the region has in terms of the financial services sector and how this would complement the new organisation's commercial objectives, if shareholders were to ratify the merger. This will be presented to Sir Victor Blank, Chairman of Lloyds TSB, next week.

Insurance

Alistair Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's estimate is of the potential liability of the British insurance industry in the current financial situation.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 22 October 2008
	Many insurance policies, for example motor or annuity policies, do not have defined liabilities. As such, it is not possible to estimate the liabilities of the UK insurance industry.

Lehman Brothers

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings his predecessor held with Lehman Brothers in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 , (c) 2006 and  (d) 2007; what the purpose of each meeting was; and if he will place on his Department's website the text of the speech made by his predecessor when he opened the Lehman Brothers headquarters at Canary Wharf in 2004.

Ian Pearson: The Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Treasury Ministers regularly meet with representatives of the banking industry and with other organisations in both public and private sectors. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide such details.
	Treasury Ministers' speeches, including the speech to which the hon. Member refers are routinely placed on the Treasury's website.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on Exchequer receipts in each of the next 10 financial years of the entry into force of clause 138 of the Finance Bill, with reference to rebates to vehicle excise duty.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 October 2008,  Official Report, column 593W.

Public Expenditure: Scotland

Adam Ingram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums will be transferred to the Scottish Executive under the Barnett formula provisions for the promotion of the use of energy from renewable resources for the period 2008 to 2011.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 28 October 2008
	The Barnett formula determines changes in the Departmental Expenditure Limit of the Scottish Executive. It is then for the Scottish Executive to decide how it allocates its block budget. The Departmental Expenditure Limits for the period 2008 to 2011 was set in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Public Finance

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on turbulence in the global financial markets.

Ian Pearson: The Chancellor continues to have regular discussions with international and European colleagues on the appropriate international response to market turbulence. The UK is leading international efforts to stabilise the global financial system and reform it for the future. Most recently, the Chancellor attended the G7 Finance Ministers Meeting on 10 October and agreed G7 Action Plan, in which Ministers committed to take coordinated actions to stabilize financial markets and restore the flow of credit.

Public Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the levels of Government  (a) borrowing and  (b) debt were in each of the last three months.

Yvette Cooper: The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes monthly public finances data. These updates can be found at
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The ONS data are also published on the HM Treasury website at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/statistics_public_finance.htm

Public Finance

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the level of  (a) public sector net debt and  (b) the current deficit; what assessment his Department has undertaken of performance in other countries on these indicators for benchmarking purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: A full range of fiscal forecasts was last published in Budget 2008. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will provide an update on the Government's fiscal position, including forecasts for the public finances, in the autumn Pre-Budget Report.
	Both the IMF and OECD publish international comparisons of deficits and debt. For more information see:
	www.imf.org
	and
	www.oecd.org

Public Value Programme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the Public Value Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Budget 2008 announced that the Public Value Programme would look at all areas of major public spending to identify where there is scope to improve value for money. The Public Value Programme will inform the Government's framework for value for money in the next CSR period which will be set out at Budget 2009. The Government will provide an update on the progress of the Public Value Programme in due course.

Revenue and Customs: North West

Greg Pope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of staff have left the employment of HM Revenue and Customs at each of its offices in the North West since April 2006.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold leavers data by location for 2006-07. The table showing the requested information for 2007-08 is shown as follows.
	
		
			  Town  Building  Number of staff who left  Percentage of all staff 
			 Accrington Castle House Accrington 12 10.4 
			 Altrincham Roberts House 4 5.4 
			 Ashton under Lyne Crown Buildings Ashton under Lyne 3 4.1 
			 Barrow in Furness Furness House 6 13.3 
			 Birkenhead Birchen House 20 16 
			 Blackburn Chaucers Walk 7 5.7 
			 Blackpool Mexford House 27 10.2 
			  Norcross 0 0 
			  Ryscar House 2 1.7 
			  Warbreck House 0 0 
			 Bolton Elizabeth House Bolton 0 0 
			  Stone Cross House 18 7.5 
			 Bootle Litherland House 26 7.3 
			  Pinnacle House 0 0 
			  St. Johns House Bootle 20 3.5 
			  St. Martins House 1 66.7 
			  The Triad 82 7.9 
			 Burnley Towneley House 11 24.4 
			 Bury Minden Place 3 9.4 
			 Carlisle Stocklund House 4 5 
			 Cheadle Boundary House 5 3.9 
			 Chester Eden House 4 7.3 
			  Hamilton House 5 7.9 
			  Norroy House 0 0 
			 Chorley Lingmell House 3 3.8 
			 Crewe Crewe House 9 10.4 
			 Kendal Eskdale House 2 4.1 
			  Kentmere House 0 0 
			 Lancaster Charter House Lancaster 10 20.8 
			 Leigh Boardman House 12 19.5 
			 Liverpool Comben House 2 5.7 
			  Graeme House 45 9.9 
			  Imperial Court Building 32 5.7 
			  Norwich House 2 4.8 
			  Queens Dock 222 11.8 
			  Regian House 42 7.8 
			  Royal Seaforth Dock 1 2.2 
			 Macclesfield Craven House 4 9.5 
			 Manchester Albert Bridge House 47 7.6 
			  Royal Exchange 2 16 
			  Terminal 1 Manchester Airport 10 4.8 
			  West Point Manchester 2 14.3 
			  Westminster House 1 6.3 
			 Nelson Trafalgar House 0 0 
			 Northwich Dane House 4 9 
			 Oldham Phoenix House Oldham 8 7.3 
			 Penrith Voreda House 0 0 
			 Preston Charles House Preston 11 4.1 
			  Diadem House 7 4.1 
			  Government Buildings Preston 6 4.7 
			  St. Marks and St. Marys House 20 3.1 
			  The Guild Centre 45 5.4 
			  Unicentre 46 8.3 
			 Rochdale Newgate House 4 10.3 
			 Salford Anchorage 2 4 3 
			  Custom House Salford 22 6.2 
			  Highland House 0 0 
			  Ralli Quays 27 5.1 
			  Trinity Bridge House 133 7.1 
			 Southport The Dukes House 16 20 
			 St. Annes Petros House 1 3.1 
			 St. Helens 63 College Street 14 9.8 
			 Stockport Archer House 27 6.9 
			  Wellesley House 0 0 
			 Warrington Mersey Bank House 6 3.6 
			 Whitehaven Blencathra House 3 4.9 
			 Widnes 1 Kingsway House 13 15.6 
			 Wigan Bridgeman House 18 30.3 
			  Lingate House 2 3.7

Tax Credit

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many tax credit referrals were taken up by the Independent Adjudicator in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to the allocation of additional staff to deal with the number of tax credit cases referred to the Independent Adjudicator;
	(3)  what the average time taken by the Independent Adjudicator to process tax credit referrals was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Information on the Adjudicator's Office is published in her annual reports which are available at:
	www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk/publications.htm
	Her office took up 1,541 tax credits referrals in the year to 30 September 2008.
	The Adjudicator's Annual Report for 2008 explained her office was in the process of setting up a new team of Adjudication Officers in Derby. That office is now up and running and fully operational.

Tax Credit

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken by HM Revenue and Customs to provide substantive responses to requests for information made by the Independent Adjudicator was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: In the 12 months to 30 September 2008, the average time taken for HMRC to deal with the request for an initial report for all cases was 15 weeks.

Taxation: Sports

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many sports clubs had community amateur sports club status removed in each of the last six months, broken down by  (a) sport and  (b) region;
	(2)  which local amateur sports clubs in Bassetlaw have been  (a) granted and  (b) refused community amateur sports club status since 2002;
	(3)  how many local amateur sports clubs  (a) applied for community amateur sports club (CASC) status and  (b) were granted CASC status in each year since 2002, broken down by (i) sport and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have removed one club from the Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) register in the last six months following the club's dissolution.
	HMRC do not separately identify CASCs by constituency. As of 30 October 2008, according to HMRC records, there are 78 registered CASCs with a Nottinghamshire postcode.
	At the end of August 2008 there were 4,965 sports clubs registered with HMRC as CASCs. A list of registered clubs is published on the HMRC website at
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/CASC/clubs.htm.
	HMRC does not hold figures on numbers of CASC registrations broken down by sport.

Unemployment

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions he has made about levels of unemployment over the next three years for the purposes of calculating the public finances.

Angela Eagle: The assumption for UK claimant count unemployment used for the public finance projections is based on an average of independent external forecasts and audited by the National Audit Office. This is an assumption for the purposes of the public finance forecast and is not the Treasury's economic forecast.
	For Budget 2008, details of the assumption can be found in box C1, in Chapter C on the public finances, in the Budget 2008 document.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding has been agreed with each of his Department's non-departmental bodies for the period 2008 to 2011.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 21 October 2008
	The Department currently sponsors seven executive non-departmental public bodies, as follows:
	
		
			  Non-departmental public body  Website 
			 Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission http://www.childmaintenance.org/pdf/CMEC_BP_web_.pdf 
			 Health and Safety Executive http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmworpen/837/83705.htm (Ref 88) 
			  http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/bplan0809.pdf 
			 Independent Living Funds (GB and NI) http://www.ilf.org.uk/cms_media/files/final_ilf_press_release_8.pdf 
			 Personal Accounts Delivery Authority http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-1372.doc 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/publications/tpas_reports/documenta/CorporatePlan2008-2001secondversion.pdf 
			 The Pensions Regulator http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/pdf/CorporatePlan2008.pdf 
			 Working Ventures UK Limited http://www.wvuk.co.uk/index.php?page=publications#p66 
		
	
	I refer the hon. Member to non-departmental public bodies via the links in the table. Available information on funding may be found in documents such as the bodies' reports, press release, corporate or business plans.
	The above links will take the hon. Member to the sections of the NDPB websites containing the latest published figures; these do not all provide in year profiles of funding for 2008-09 to 2010-11 as individual allocations have not been made beyond 2008-09 in all cases. Where negotiations are ongoing and figures have not been finalised a link has been provided to the location we expect the information to be published.
	It is worth noting that 2008-09 Grant-in-aid figures are available in DWP's main supply estimate available at:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0708/hc04/0479/0479.pdf

Departmental Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost to his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is as follows.
	 End of year performance bonuses
	DWP employees in pay bands below the senior civil service are eligible for an annual individual performance bonus if they attain a "Top", "Higher" or "Majority" rating under the annual performance and development system. The amount of bonus awarded is differentiated on the basis of employee's pay band and the performance level achieved.
	For the senior civil service end of year bonuses are determined on an individual basis by the relevant DWP SCS Pay Committee.
	Performance awards from the year 2007-08 were payable in July of the financial year 2008-09. A total of £23.32 million has been paid. This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1—Department total 
			  Financial year  Total paid (£ million)  Total number of recipients 
			 2008-09 23.32 107,726 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  2 — Total below SCS 
			  Financial year  Total paid (£ million)  Total number of recipients 
			 2008-09 21.50 107,518 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  3 — Total SCS 
			  Financial year  Total paid (£ million)  Total number of recipients 
			 2008-09 1.82 208 
			  Notes: 1. The information in tables 1 and 2 is based on the numbers of employees recorded on the DWP payroll systems as having received a qualifying performance mark. These are headcount. 2. Some individuals may have received more than one type of bonus payment in the year, which is why the information has been presented separately and not as an aggregated total. 3. The performance bonus is paid in the financial year following the performance year of 1 April to 31 March. 4. The total amount paid includes Employers National Insurance Contribution (ERNIC). 5. These figures are the best available. 
		
	
	 Special bonus and voucher payments
	Individuals may also be entitled to special bonus payments either as cash or vouchers. These are one-off recognition awards, payable at any time during the performance year and are not linked to the annual pay award.
	The cost in a typical year for cash bonuses is around £2.7 million with payments made to approximately 11,250 individuals (based on 2007-08 payments).
	The cost for voucher payments was £1.77 million in 2007-08. 31,237 vouchers were issued, however some individuals might have received more than one voucher.

Departmental Responsibilities

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is on allowing its staff to attend meetings that they are not required to attend as part of their departmental duties, during the working day and outside his Department's premises; and whether attempts are made to minimise the number of staff attending such meetings.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 27 October 2008
	The Department has a responsibility to provide an effective service for its customers and ensure business continuity. Consequently, employees wishing to attend meetings not connected with their duties during the working day would be expected to apply for time off and to attend any such meetings in their own time. Time off may be restricted or refused if necessary.
	On occasion, there are specific scheduled meetings arranged by departmentally recognised trade unions such as branch Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and these meetings may take place either on or off the Department's premises. Managers may grant union members reasonable time away from their desks to attend. However, they would use their discretion in restricting the number of attendees so that the delivery of the services provided by the Department would not be compromised.
	In addition, the Department makes provision for employees to take special leave. This enables employees to serve on certain public or community bodies, i.e. as members of a local authority, magistrates, mayors, school or college governors, jury members or members of the Territorial Army, reserve forces or cadet forces. Special leave can be either paid or unpaid depending on the role and individual circumstances. Again, time off may be restricted or refused so that the delivery of the services provided by the Department would not be compromised.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 65W, on incapacity benefit: applications, how many new claims for incapacity benefit were made by those aged  (a) under 25,  (b) under 35,  (c) between 25 and 44 and  (d) between 45 and 65 years in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 13 October 2008
	Over this period the number of people starting a claim for incapacity benefits has generally been falling. Since 2003 the number of people leaving has exceeded the number of people joining incapacity benefits resulting in an overall reduction in the number of people on incapacity benefits. This may be driven in part by Pathways to Work which has now helped more than 94,000 people into employment.
	The available information on incapacity benefits commencements is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance commencements by age: Great Britain 
			   Under 25  Under 35  Between 25 and 44  Between 45 and 65 
			 1998 136,900 322,900 360,500 351,600 
			 1999 132,900 304,700 343,100 339,300 
			 2000 128,900 291,200 333,000 329,900 
			 2001 134,900 282,100 309,900 317,700 
			 2002 128,400 271,400 301,600 296,400 
			 2003 125,400 261,900 291,500 290,800 
			 2004 121,000 248,200 277,300 275,300 
			 2005 108,600 225,100 257,900 259,800 
			 2006 106,400 218,600 249,300 248,300 
			 2007 112,000 225,500 256,400 248,100 
			  Notes: 1. The best statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources. Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Figures contain overlaps of commencements where a claimant is aged between 16 and 35. 4. The yearly figures are compiled from quarterly data starting from 1 December in the previous year. 5. Figures include those on IB credits only, who may also claim income support on grounds of sickness or disability.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample

Jobcentres

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what jobcentres he has visited since taking up his post.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 9 October 2008
	Since becoming Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend has visited Stalybridge, Redbridge, Glasgow City, Nottingham Station Street, Glossop and Kentish Town jobcentres.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to respond to the letter to him dated 12 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr P. Meakin.

Jonathan R Shaw: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 27 October 2008.

National Insurance: Migrant Workers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many migrant workers have  (a) applied for and  (b) received national insurance cards in the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of applications made is not available.
	A national insurance card is not automatically issued for every national insurance number registered. The available information on the number of national insurance registrations is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Registrations of national insurance numbers to overseas nationals 
			  Year of registration  Thousand 
			 2003-04 373.50 
			 2004-05 435.35 
			 2005-06 663.06 
			 2006-07 705.84 
			 2007-08 733.09 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to nearest 10 and displayed in thousands.  2. Financial years used.  3. Figures provided do not include national insurance numbers issued to young foreign nationals under the juvenile registration process.  4. Figures are on registrations for any purpose not specifically for the purpose of employment.  5. The information is published on the DWP website at  http://83.244.183.180/mgw/final/finyr/ccsex/a_stock_r_finyr_c_ccsex_apr08.htm  Source:  100 per cent. DWP extract from national insurance recording system at 29 July 2008.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to provide enhanced financial assistance to families with disabled children to reflect recent trends in fuel and food prices.

Jonathan R Shaw: Assistance is available through disability benefits and the disability premium in income-related benefits in recognition of the extra costs, including heating, which disabled children may have.
	Help towards the extra costs of disability, including domestic fuel, is provided through the care and mobility components in disability living allowance (DLA). Depending on the rates payable, DLA can be worth up to £113.75 a week. DLA is increased in April each year. The level of the uprating is calculated using the increase in the retail prices index for the 12 months ending in the preceding September.
	Families with disabled children may be entitled to the disability and severe disability elements in the tax credits system, in addition to any DLA received. Families in receipt of income support may also get cold weather payments in periods of very cold weather.
	We have no proposals for further enhancing financial assistance to families with disabled children.

Unemployment Benefits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what forecast he has made of total expenditure on  (a) incapacity benefit,  (b) income support,  (c) employment and support allowance and  (d) Pathways to Work in each of the next five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 20 October 2008
	The planned spending for Pathways to Work is:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 280 
			 2009-10 380 
			 2010-11 380 
		
	
	Figures provided, particularly for 2009-10 and 2010-11, are indicative allocations based on current assumptions and are subject to change. Forecasted expenditure of Pathways to Work can only be provided to 2010-11 as beyond this the programme expenditure is dependent on policy and commercial assumptions which are subject to substantial change.
	The available information on forecasts of total expenditure on incapacity benefit, income support, and employment and support allowance is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Benefit expenditure. Great Britain (real terms 2008-09 prices) 
			  £ million 
			   Income support( 1)  Incapacity benefit  Employment and support allowance—contribution based  Employment and support allowance—income based 
			 2008-09 7,727 6,212 201 227 
			 2009-10 6,008 5,422 642 861 
			 2010-11 5,141 4,660 1,106 1,581 
			 2011-12 4,379 4,095 1,480 2,222 
			 2012-13 3,916 3,504 1,813 2,746 
		
	
	
		
			  Benefit expenditure. Great Britain (nominal terms) 
			  £ million 
			   Income support( 1)  Incapacity benefit  Employment and support allowance—contribution based  Employment and support allowance—income based 
			 2008-09 7,727 6,212 201 227 
			 2009-10 6,173 5,571 660 885 
			 2010-11 5,428 4,920 1,168 1,669 
			 2011-12 4,751 4,443 1,605 2,410 
			 2012-13 4,365 3,906 2,021 3,061 
			 (1) Income support figures are for all income support expenditure not just income support (incapacity benefit).  Notes: 1. Figures for 2008-09 to 2010-11 are consistent with Budget 2008 Government spending plans. Figures for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are projections, based on Budget 2008 figures, produced for the introduction of employment and support allowance. 2. Figures are on a resource accounting and budgeting basis. There may be differences between figures quoted in these tables and those quoted in Department for Work and Pensions Accounts. 3. Real terms have been calculated using Gross Domestic Product deflators updated after the 2008 Budget Report on 12 March 2008.  Source: DWP Forecasts and Projections

TRANSPORT

Buses: Lancashire

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from local authorities in Lancashire on the adequacy of grant funding for the free off-peak local bus travel scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Lancashire county council have written to the Secretary of State to request a meeting to discuss the grant funding. Three local MPs have also written to the Department about this issue, enclosing the letter from the county council.

Crossrail: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial agreement he has reached with BAA and Transport for London on the funding of Crossrail.

Paul Clark: A Heads of Terms agreement was entered into between Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL) about the funding and governance of the Crossrail project in November 2007. Since then, DfT has been holding discussions with TfL about the detailed arrangements for the funding of the project and discussions have been held with key beneficiaries of Crossrail, including British Aviation Authority (BAA), about financial contributions. The discussions with TfL and BAA are at an advanced stage and should be finalised shortly.

Crossrail: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been  (a) committed and  (b) provided for Crossrail from (i) BAA, (ii) Transport for London and (iii) London businesses.

Paul Clark: The funding for Crossrail was announced by the Prime Minister on 5 October 2007. Funding will be split roughly three ways; between the Government, Crossrail fare payers and London businesses. Details of the contributions expected to be made were included in a Heads of Terms agreement signed in November 2007 between Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL).
	The Heads of Terms agreement can be viewed on the DfT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/165234/302038/headsofterms.pdf
	Discussions between DfT and British Aviation Authority (BAA) about a funding contribution towards the cost of Crossrail are at an advanced stage and should be finalised shortly.
	Under the Heads of Terms agreement, TfL is responsible for underwriting £7.7 billion of the Crossrail project's £15.9 billion estimated capital cost. This includes a contribution from fare payers but also covers the business contributions in the form of the proposed business rate supplement, contributions from property development around stations, the use of the existing section 106 mechanism and possibly a mechanism to extract planning gains. TfL is also funding the costs of Cross London Rail Links Ltd. during 2008-09.
	The Heads of Terms agreement assumes considerable contributions from key beneficiaries of Crossrail. The City of London corporation has committed to make a significant contribution and to collect voluntary contributions from businesses across London. An in-principle agreement has been reached with Berkeley Homes for them to construct, at their own cost and risk, a station box at Woolwich. In addition, terms have been agreed with Canary Wharf Group for a significant contribution to the project, the details of which are under negotiation.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sanctions are available in cases of departmental staff found to have committed disciplinary offences; and how many times each has been used in each of the last three years.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 21 July 2008,  Official Report, column 882W.
	The Department has a range of penalties for staff found to have committed disciplinary offences from a warning to dismissal depending on the case. All of these have been used in the past.

Departmental Private Finance Initiative

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of his Department's public-private partnerships and private finance initiative schemes which  (a) have begun and  (b) are planned have as a private partner (i) an Icelandic bank and (ii) a UK bank which has been part-nationalised.

Geoff Hoon: None of the planned or ongoing Department for Transport PFI Special Purpose Vehicle equity providers are Icelandic banks or part-nationalised UK banks. The Department does not retain information on the senior lenders to the Special Purpose Vehicles.

First Great Western

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the performance of First Great Western against the objectives of its remedial plan; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport reviews First Great Western's performance in reducing cancellations every four weeks against the numbers of cancellations allowed by the Remedial Agreement. First Great Western has made substantial reductions in the numbers of cancellations it causes. First Great Western remains within the terms of the Remedial Agreement.
	While the Remedial Agreement focuses on cancellations, there have also been improvements in First Great Western punctuality as shown by the Public Performance Measure ('PPM').

Government Departments: Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that all Departments use British-built cars.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Each Department is responsible for setting its own criteria for the purchase and hire of the vehicles it uses.
	The purchase or hire by Government Departments of cars and other vehicles is subject to the Suppliers Directive (93/36/EC as last amended by Directive 97/52/EC). Together with the relevant Remedies Directive (89/665/EEC), the Suppliers Directive has been given effect in the UK by the Public Supply Contract Regulations (SI.1995/201, last amended by SI.2000/2009).

National Express

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he or his officials last met representatives of National Express North Eastern to discuss the provisions of its franchise agreement.

Paul Clark: Department for Transport officials routinely meet train operating companies to discuss a range of issues on an ongoing basis. However, under the franchise agreement a franchise performance meeting between DFT officials and franchised train operating companies must be held once in each reporting period (every four weeks). The last such meeting with National Express East Coast took place on 9 October 2008.

Official Cars: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of provision of Government cars to special advisers has been in the last 12 months, broken down by Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency does not provide official cars for special advisers.

Parking: Disabled

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been  (a) detected and  (b) reprimanded for inappropriate use of disabled badges in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Clark: This information is not available. However, from this year, we are asking local authorities to provide annual reports on the number of people prosecuted for abuse of the Blue Badge (disabled parking) Scheme. Headline figures from this survey will be published on the Department for Transport website from 20 November.

Powers of Entry

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many powers of entry have been  (a) introduced and  (b) abolished by his Department through legislation since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing (Mr. Coaker) on 22 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 451-52W.

Railways: Fares

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department collects on proposed penalty fare schemes by train operating companies before approving them.

Paul Clark: The 2002 Penalty Fares Rules and Policy document sets this out, and many other matters relating to national rail penalty fare schemes in detail. A link to the full version of this document may be found on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/legislation/pf/

Railways: Overcrowding

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department and its predecessors have taken to alleviate congestion on trains in the last 10 years; and what steps it plans to take.

Paul Clark: Over the past 10 years, the initiatives taken to increase rail capacity and reduce train congestion include the West Coast Mainline upgrade and increases in capacity provided through new rail franchises and new rolling stock. Further commitments are set out in the High Level Output Specification published in July 2007.

Railways: Passengers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail passengers there were in each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: Statistics on rail passenger numbers are published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in the National Rail Trends Yearbook, which is available in the House Library, or from the ORR website:
	www.rail-reg.gov.uk

Railways: South West

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change in train passenger numbers has been in the South West since 2002-03; what change was predicted in the Strategic Rail Authorities' Route Utilisation Strategy prediction of 2005; and what steps his Department is taking in response to the change.

Paul Clark: Total rail passenger journeys to/from/within the South West region rose from 132 million in 2002-03 to 158 million in 2006-07. The "Great Western Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy", published by the Strategic Rail Authority in 2005, predicted a rate of increase of 1.9 per cent. per annum within the Greater Western Main Line area.
	The Department for Transport's strategy for providing additional capacity on the UK railway is set out in the rail White Paper "Delivering a sustainable railway", published on July 24 2007. On top of record sums already committed until 2009, the Government will invest a further £10 billion in enhancements alone over the following five years.

Road Traffic: Bristol

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the economy of congestion in the Greater Bristol area; what steps the Government is taking to reduce it; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Government are investing in long-term transport improvements to tackle congestion in the Greater Bristol area, which is estimated by the local authorities in the area to cost the local economy at least £350 million a year.
	The Government are providing £35 million over the three years to 2010-11 to Greater Bristol authorities for small-scale highways and public transport capital projects. Additionally £220 million has been allocated to the Greater Bristol area in the period to 2015-16 for major highway and public transport schemes. This includes the Greater Bristol Bus Network, a £68 million scheme that we approved in May 2008 and will provide 10 new showcase bus routes in the Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare and Bath area. In June 2008 we awarded Bristol £11.4 million for cycling initiatives that are expected to double the proportion of local journeys by bike to 7 to 8 per cent. over the three years to 2010-11.
	With regard to rail, additional capacity will be delivered in the period to 2014 through extra carriages on services serving Bristol in the peak commuting hours.
	The Government have also made available £2.6 million in pump-priming funding to the Greater Bristol authorities to support the development of packages of measures for addressing local congestion problems that combine local road pricing with investment in the public transport network. We will continue to work closely with the authorities as they develop their proposals.

Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 29 October 2008
	I have been contacted by the Welsh Assembly Government and by other hon. Members on behalf of constituents.
	The Government have announced its intention to allow the voluntary display of national flags on vehicle number plates in England, Scotland and Wales. We are looking at how this change can be brought forward as soon as possible.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which roads were detrunked in each of the last 11 years, broken down by region.

Paul Clark: The 1998 Transport White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone", set in hand a programme of detrunking to allow the Highways Agency to concentrate on the operation of a strategic road network that links the main centres of population and major transport hubs.
	The programme enables local highway authorities to set priorities for routes that primarily serve local needs, and supports the Government's aim to devolve more responsibilities to local communities. The programme is currently expected to be concluded by the end of the 2008-09 financial year.
	A table providing details of the road lengths that have so far been detrunked under this programme, during each financial year, for each region has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of which of his Department's public service agreements rural proofing of departmental policies is stipulated.

Paul Clark: Under CSR07, Departments no longer have Department-specific PSAs, but contribute collaboratively to 30 cross-Government PSAs.
	The Department for Transport is lead Department for the delivery of PSA 5: Deliver Reliable and Efficient Transport Networks that Support Economic Growth.
	PSA 5 deals with urban and inter-urban congestion, capacity and crowding on the rail network and the value achieved from departmental investment. PSA 5 does not specifically cover rural transport, however it is a requirement for all new policies and programmes to be subject to an impact assessment which includes rural proofing.

Taxis: Licensing

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hackney carriage licences have been issued by local authorities in the last five years.

Paul Clark: holding answer 29 October 2008
	Hackney carriage licences in England and Wales are granted for a maximum period of one year. The Department for Transport carries out surveys of local taxi licensing authorities. The past four surveys(1) give the following results for the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences in England and Wales (including London).
	(1) Surveys are not undertaken annually
	
		
			  Number of hackney carriage licences 
			   Thousand 
			 31 March 2007 73.3 
			 31 March 2005 67.8 
			 31 March 2004 66.7 
			 31 December 2001 63.1

Tolls

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for establishing road pricing pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Government's approach to tackling congestion and the role of charging was set out in the Command Paper we published on 16 July and the accompanying written statement made by the then Secretary of State on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 32-33WS. I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on 22 October 2008,  Official Report, column 431W.

Transport: South West

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements are being made to the South West's transport infrastructure to support the number of homes to be built in the region by 2026 as referred to in the South West Regional Spatial Strategy.

Paul Clark: Following advice from the region on the transport priorities for the South West, the Government announced in July 2006 plans to fund a programme of major transport schemes in the period to 2015-16. The programme includes 18 schemes that will provide additional road capacity and improved accessibility to public transport services at locations identified for housing growth in the South West Regional Spatial Strategy. The schemes, some of which are subject to major scheme approval by the Department for Transport, are:
	Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative
	Taunton Third Way and Northern Distributor Road
	Greater Bristol Bus Network
	Weymouth Relief Road
	East of Exeter Phase 2
	Exeter Principal Urban Area Infrastructure
	East of Plymouth Developments
	Bath Transport Package
	South Bristol Ring Road
	Weston-Super-Mare Package
	Bristol Rapid Transit
	Camborne-Pool-Redruth Transport Package
	Exeter High Quality Public Transport
	Gloucester A40 Improvements
	Cheltenham and Gloucester Park and Ride
	North Swindon Transport Package
	Truro Transport Package
	Weymouth Olympic Transport Package
	The Government asked the regions in July 2008 for further advice on transport and other priorities in the period to 2018-19. This will provide the opportunity for the regional bodies in the South West to revisit their priorities and identify where the Regional Funding Allocation of £1.1 billion in the period to 2018-19 should be best targeted to support housing growth.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Departmental Lost Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what  (a) equipment and  (b) data were reported lost by the House of Commons Service in the last 12 months.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to replies to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 858W, and the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 545W. Since then it has been reported that 10 chairs were stolen from Portcullis House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Local Government: Referendums

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what rules apply to expenditure by  (a) central government and  (b) local authorities in respect of local referenda (i) before and (ii) during the referendum period.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	There are long standing conventions that central Government do not incur expenditure in support of any local election campaigns. This applies equally to any local referendums.
	Under the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity local authorities are precluded from incurring expenditure for the purpose of influencing public support for, or opposition to, referendum proposals.

WALES

Auditor General for Wales

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the Auditor General for Wales.

Paul Murphy: Arrangements for my next meeting with the Auditor General are in hand.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on salaries for press and communication officers in his Department in each of the last three years.

Paul Murphy: My Department has spent the following on salaries for press and communication officers:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 147,178 
			 2006-07 152,044 
			 2005-06 181,333

Departmental Lost Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what  (a) equipment and  (b) data were lost by his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: My Department has lost one mobile phone and one security pass in the last 12 months. No data have been lost in that period.

Departmental Mass Media

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which organisations provided media monitoring services to  (a) his Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years; and what the cost of each contract was.

Paul Murphy: My Department has received media monitoring services from the following:
	
		
			   £ 
			  TNS Media Intelligence  
			 2005-06 6,730 
			 2006-07 9,350 
			 2007-08 12,258 
			   
			  Central Office of Information  
			 2006-07 8,601 
			 2007-08 11,738 
			 Meltwater News UK (1)— 
			 (1) We currently hold a one year contract at the cost of £4,136.

Departmental Recruitment

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many vacant posts in his Department were advertised in each of the last three years; and at what cost.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office will normally advertise vacant posts to all Ministry of Justice and Welsh Assembly Government staff, using electronic media at no identifiable special cost. We keep information on such internal advertisements for one year only. In the 12-month period September 2007 to 2008 we have placed 14 internal advertisements for vacant posts.
	In 2006 we advertised one vacant post externally at a cost of £17,240.92.

Departmental Training

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on external training courses for departmental staff in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008; and which external organisations were paid by the Department to provide such courses in each year.

Paul Murphy: My Department has spent the following on external training courses for departmental staff:
	
		
			   Paid to:  £ 
			 2005-06 World Trade Group 9,151 
			  National School of Government  
			
			 2006-07 Premier IT 8,452 
			  National School of Government  
			  the Law Society  
			  Institute of Welsh Affairs  
			  Metropolitan Police  
			  the House of Commons  
			  Wales Audit Office  
			  World Trade Group  
			
			 2007-08 Premier IT 6,744 
			  National School of Government  
			  the Law Society  
			  Institute of Welsh Affairs  
			  the House of Commons  
			  Dod's Parliamentary Communications  
			  University College London

Security Industry Authority

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had discussions with the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) on establishing an administrative base for the SIA in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I have not met with representatives of the Security Industry Authority. I am advised, however, that it has no plans to establish an administrative base in Wales but do have teams of investigators in each geographical region of the UK, including Wales.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Drugs

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK efforts to eradicate poppy growing in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Poppy eradication is the responsibility of the Afghan government. The UK is not directly involved in this activity, but we do provide support to the planning, monitoring and targeting work of the Afghan eradication forces.
	The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reports that 5,480 hectares were eradicated in 2008, down on 19,047 hectares in 2007. This is disappointing. But the picture is more nuanced. The drop in eradication has been accompanied by a drop of nearly one fifth in poppy cultivation, which is a significant success. Furthermore, eradication efforts in Helmand targeted land cultivated by individuals of significance in the narcotics trade.

China: Armed Forces

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from his US counterpart on  (a) the Ministry of Defence's Chinese bilateral programme and  (b) the training of Chinese military personnel in the UK.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not received any representations from his US counterpart on these subjects.

Georgia: Foreign Relations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions and what dates he has communicated with  (a) members and  (b) representatives of the Georgian government since 1 August 2008.

Caroline Flint: We have regular exchanges with members of the Georgian Government on a range of issues, most recently on 27 September when my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met President Saakashvili of Georgia at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Iraq: Asylum

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2186W, on Iraq: asylum, how many applications under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance scheme have been rejected against the criteria  (a) to have 12 months continuous service and  (b) to have been employed from 1 January 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: 153 applications have been rejected on the grounds of less than 12 months service, and 67 because the applicant was not employed on or after 1 January 2005.

Iraq: Asylum

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1827W, on Iraq: asylum, of the 351 applications assessed as eligible, how many applicants have chosen the  (a) financial package and  (b) Gateway scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Since 10 July, the figures have changed. There have now been 1,067 applications for assistance from former staff (as defined under the scheme), of which 432 have been assessed as eligible for assistance and decisions are pending on a further 16. Of those assessed as eligible, 250 have chosen the financial package, 165 have opted for resettlement under the Gateway programme and 17 have yet to express a preference.

Iraq: Asylum

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1120W, on Iraq: asylum, of the 220 applications for assistance under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance scheme from currently employed staff, how many  (a) applied for and  (b) received (i) financial assistance, (ii) exceptional leave to remain and (iii) resettlement under the Gateway scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Since 22 July, the figures have changed. There have now been 243 applications for assistance from serving staff (as defined under the scheme), of which 149 have been assessed as eligible for assistance, 83 as not eligible, and 11 are awaiting a decision. Of those assessed as eligible, 99 have chosen the financial package, 27 have chosen indefinite leave to enter the UK and the rest have yet to express a preference.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department first received a copy of the report dated 10 February 2004 from the International Committee of the Red Cross on alleged abuses by coalition forces in Abu Ghraib and elsewhere in Iraq; and from what source.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 26 May 2004,  Official Report, column 1637W. Unfortunately, despite a thorough search of our records I am unable to confirm from what source the report was obtained.

Kosovo: Diplomatic Relations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether diplomatic relations have been established between the UK and Kosovo since its declaration of independence.

Caroline Flint: The UK recognised Kosovo on 18 February and the British office in Pristina became the British embassy. Our current ambassador, Mr. Andy Sparkes, presented his credentials on 28 April. The Government of Kosovo have nominated Mr. Muhammet Hamiti as chargé d'affaires in London. He is expected to take up his appointment shortly.

South Ossetia

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit South Ossetia.

Caroline Flint: At the present time, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit South Ossetia.

Sudan: Elections

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to encourage conditions conducive to freedom of expression in Sudan ahead of the forthcoming elections in that country.

Gillian Merron: The UK has raised freedom of expression through our position as Chair of the media sub-group of the elections donor group in Khartoum. We are working with the group and the UN to lobby the Government of Sudan to reform key legislation including the media law.
	The UK has supported civic education and media training programmes since late 2007, including funding the BBC World Service Trust to work with radio stations across the country. We will contribute an initial £1.5 million to the UN-managed elections fund which will run programmes on civic and voter education, training of civil society organisations, and training of electoral staff.

Sudan: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Qatar on the situation in Sudan.

Bill Rammell: We have held discussions with the Qataris on Sudan at official level in Doha, as well as between the UK Special Representative on Sudan and the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, in New York. We welcome all constructive initiatives towards peace in Darfur under the overall leadership of the UN-African Union Chief Mediator, and hope that Qatar's proposal to host a Darfur peace conference, to which the Government of Sudan and Darfur rebel movements would be invited, can make a positive contribution to these efforts.

UN Women's Agency

Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the creation of a UN Women's Agency; and what steps his Department has taken to encourage the UN to implement the gender reforms outlined by the High Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence in November 2006.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government's policy is to support the establishment of a single UN gender entity.
	Improving how the international system delivers development outcomes for women is important for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Our objective is to see a merger of existing agencies with responsibility for gender and to ensure that UN staff responsible for gender have sufficient seniority and authority. The UK also wants to make the UN's operations on the ground better informed by its work on norms and standards, and vice versa.
	The UK Government joined with other member states to agree in the UN General Assembly last month on a resolution enabling work to proceed on the single gender entity. More detailed design work is currently underway internally in the UN. We are in active discussion with the UN system, including UNIFEM and the Special Adviser on Gender, and with member states including EU partners to offer our support and advice.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many press and communications officers are employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) its non-departmental public bodies and (c) its agencies.

Mike O'Brien: Six press officers have currently been transferred to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Other communication functions are still under consideration. A decision on which non-departmental public bodies and agencies will transfer to the Department is being considered.

Departmental Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff who are now members of his Department in the last 12 months; and at what total cost.

Mike O'Brien: The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) came into existence on 3 October 2008 and has therefore not yet paid any bonuses to staff. The figures for bonuses paid to those staff from BERR and Defra who have now moved to DECC are contained in the answers given for these two Departments. It is not currently possible to produce separate figures for these staff.

Energy: Aviation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on whether the aviation sector's energy requirements should be counted towards the total final energy demand of the UK for the purposes of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

Mike O'Brien: We are involved in continuing negotiations with EU member states, the Commission and European Parliament on the EU renewable energy directive and are working towards agreement by the end of the year.
	The Government are fully committed to meeting the proposed target of 15 per cent. of UK energy consumption being sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Earlier this year, we consulted on how this might be achieved and, in the light of the results of this consultation, we plan to publish a UK renewable energy strategy in spring 2009.

Energy: Fees and Charges

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that energy prices are reduced for those paying by pre-payment meters.

Mike O'Brien: On 6 October Ofgem published initial findings from its probe into the energy supply markets for households and small businesses. They believe that, even taking account of higher costs facing companies from customers with pre-payment meters, many homes that use them are being overcharged. The Government's position was set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 16 October 2008,  Official Report, column 935.
	"Unfair pricing which hits the most vulnerable hardest is completely unacceptable. I made that clear to the representatives of the big six energy companies when I met them yesterday.
	I also told them that the Government expects rapid action or explanation to remedy any abuses and I will meet them again in a month to hear what they have done.
	We, and Ofgem, are determined to see these issues addressed. Ofgem are consulting on its findings until 1 December as part of a due process.
	If the companies don't act in a satisfactory way, then we will consult on legislation to prevent unfair pricing differentials."

Fuel Poverty

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the recent changes in energy prices on fuel poverty among elderly people; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Government recently published the sixth annual strategy report of fuel poverty in the UK, containing 2006 figures and detailed breakdowns, including for the elderly. The report features a detailed statistical annex which contains projections of fuel poverty in England for 2007 and 2008. The projections show that fuel poverty in England is likely to rise from 2.4 million households in 2006 to around 3.1 million in 2007. For 2008, the number is likely to rise to around 3.6 million households. The projections are indicative, and can only be made at an aggregate national level, so no further breakdown is available.

Fuel Poverty

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people were in fuel poverty in  (a) the London borough of Havering and  (b) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: The most recent period for which sub-regional estimates of fuel poverty are available is 2003. The data for fuel poverty levels for 2003 come from the Fuel Poverty Indicator dataset, available on the Fuel Poverty Indicator website.
	This shows that in 2003, there were around 5,000 fuel poor households in Havering. In 2003, there were around 1.2 million fuel poor households in England in total.
	The Government's Sixth Annual Progress Report on Fuel Poverty was published on 2 October 2008. It shows that, in 2006, there were approximately 3.5 million households in fuel poverty across the UK, an increase of 1 million households since 2005. Around 2.75 million of these are vulnerable households (containing children, the elderly or a person who is disabled or suffering from a long-term illness).
	In England, the overall number of households estimated to be in fuel poverty in 2006 is 2.4 million of which around 1.9 million are vulnerable. This represents a rise of 900,000 households since 2005 and a rise of 700,000 vulnerable households over the same period. In London in 2006, there were around 250,000 fuel poor households.
	Official figures for 2007 will not be available until next year, however indicative projections for 2007 and 2008 were published in the Sixth Annual Progress Report, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The projections made for 2007 show that further price rises are likely to have pushed a further 0.7 million households into fuel poverty. Projections for 2008 show a further increase in fuel poverty for England, of around 0.5 million households. These projections are based on known price changes along with estimates for income and energy efficiency improvements.

Fuel: Prices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward legislation to reduce the retail price of  (a) petrol and  (b) gas in line with reductions in production costs.

Mike O'Brien: The Government do not intend to control petrol or gas prices through legislation. In order to ensure competitive pricing, the Office of Fair Trading monitors the UK petrol and diesel market. It is empowered to act if the price level appears to be the result of anti-competitive behaviour. Similarly, Ofgem regulates the gas market to ensure the consumer is protected.

Insulation: Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from 100,000 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances in building foams in buildings.

Joan Ruddock: No firm estimates are currently available for the quantity of ozone-depleting substances in building insulation foams. Assuming the blowing agent is two-thirds chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and one-third hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), 100,000 tonnes might be equivalent to 336 million tonnes of CO2.
	The level of emissions from building foam is known to be at its lowest while the foam remains undisturbed in the building. Most of these foams are currently still in buildings; therefore emissions from building foam sources are not likely to be significant at present.
	The technical and economic feasibility of recovering and destroying ozone-depleting substances in building insulation foams at the end of the life of the building is being considered by the European Commission and member states. Defra is also seeking the views of industry stakeholders.

Microgeneration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the potential TWh contribution that solar photo voltaics and small wind technologies can make  (a) to the 2020 renewable energy target and  (b) by 2030.

Mike O'Brien: Recent studies on the potential of solar photo voltaics and wind technologies below 1MW in the non-domestic sector showed that these technologies can make the following contributions:
	
		
			   2020  2030 
			   Annual generation in 2020  Cumulative resource cost by 2020  Annual generation in 2030  Cumulative resource cost by 2030 
			   TWh  £ billion  TWh  £ billion 
			 Small wind <100kW 2.2 1.7 3 4.8 
			 Medium wind <100-500kW 3.7 2.4 4.3 4.9 
			 Large wind >500kW 8.0 2.4 7.6 5.6 
			 All wind 13.9 6.5 14.9 15.3 
			 PV 12.5 17.3 25.7 47.5 
		
	
	The report can be viewed at
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/index.html.
	The Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation closed for responses on 26 September. In formulating our final strategy we will be considering the contribution needed to meet our targets from different technologies.

Microgeneration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons the Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation document did not include an analysis of the potential of solar photo voltaics and small wind technologies in the non-domestic sector.

Mike O'Brien: The Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) consultation document considered a study by Element Energy on the growth potential for microgeneration and so included some analysis on the potential of solar PV and small wind technologies in the non-domestic setting up to 50 kWe. In addition, we commissioned a further study, prior to the RES consultation, on the potential of solar PV and wind technologies beyond this up to 1 MW. However, this work was not completed at the time the RES consultation was launched. We therefore said that we planned to publish this study to scope the potential for retrofitting larger on-site renewable electricity generation in the existing built environment during the consultation period, which we did. The result of this study is available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file48018.pdf.
	As part of the Renewable Energy Strategy, which will be published in spring 2009, we will consider incentives to encourage on-site technologies and this analysis will feed into that work.

Microgeneration

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic microgeneration installations, broken down by type.

Mike O'Brien: A recent study by Element Energy commissioned by DECC (formerly BERR) and a range of stakeholders suggested the following number of domestic microgeneration installations across different technologies: Further information available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46003.pdf
	DECC has also commissioned more detailed work on installations broken down by regions/devolved Administrations which will be published shortly.
	
		
			  Estimated number of grid-connected electricity-generating microgeneration units installed 
			  Grid-connected electricity-generating microgeneration technology  Estimated annual sales (Units)  Estimated number of units installed by 2007  Comments 
			 PV (1)> 560 2,900 Mostly < 4 kW 
			 Small-CHP (1)> 7 233-990 Mostly 4 kW - 60 kW systems 
			 Micro-Wind (1)> 159 1134 Mostly 1.5 kW - 4 kW systems 
			 Micro-Hydro (1)> 11 65-75 Mostly ca. 4 kW systems 
			 (1) In 2006. 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated numbers of heat-only microgeneration technologies installed 
			  Heat-only generating microgeneration technology  Approximate annual sales  Estimated number installed by 2007  Comments 
			 Solar Thermal (1)At least 5,000-6,000 90,000 Higher numbers have been estimated by STA, but could not be verified during this study 
			 Biomass (1)ca. 100 500-600 Estimated by a fuel supplier. Mostly these are fuelled by chips rather than pellets 
			 GSHP (1)ca. 100 750-2,000 Estimated by industry experts and likely uptake through publicly-funded energy efficiency schemes 
			 ASHP (1)< 100 160 Mostly installed through publicly-funded energy efficiency schemes 
			 (1) In 2007.

Microgeneration

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of people employed in the microgeneration industry.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not hold information on the number of people employed in the microgeneration industry.

Plutonium: Prices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what value was put on the share of British Energy plutonium owned by the Government through its share ownership in British Energy, as part of the sale price agreed with Eléctricité de France.

Mike O'Brien: British Energy owns a relatively small quantity of plutonium that has arisen from reprocessing at Thorp. British Energy treats the plutonium as a zero-value asset, and records a liability of £4.8 million (discounted) in its accounts relating to the management of the plutonium. This is consistent with the approach taken by the NDA to the plutonium it holds. EdF's offer for British Energy, under which EdF would pay around £4.4 billion to Government for its stake appeared to represent value for money. The plutonium stocks were not separately valued, and any valuation of them would have been  de minimis in the context of the deal as a whole.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what his policy is on whether 5000 MW is an appropriate threshold for renewable energy projects that will not be completed by 2020 in the context of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.
	(2)  what steps the Government will take to maintain investor confidence in the EU's commitment to renewable energy if a major review of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources takes place in or around 2014.
	(3)  what his policy is on whether the 20 per cent. renewable energy target should continue in force following any review of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources in or around 2014.

Mike O'Brien: We are involved in continuing negotiations with EU member states, the Commission and European Parliament on the EU renewable energy directive and are working towards agreement by the end of the year.
	The Government are fully committed to meeting the proposed target of 15 per cent. of UK energy consumption being sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Earlier this year, we consulted on how this might be achieved and, in the light of the results of this consultation, we plan to publish a UK renewable energy strategy in spring 2009.

Renewable Energy: Energy Supply

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on whether renewable energy should be given priority access, subject to maintaining network reliability, to connection to the National Grid network and to priority transmission and distribution.

Mike O'Brien: Ensuring access for a mix of generating technologies is essential in delivering energy security and tackling climate change. As the amount of variable renewable generation on the network increases, we will need to see timely investment in new responsive back-up capacity in order to ensure reliable electricity supplies.
	The Government are focussing on providing faster grid access for renewable and other generators. In June 2008 we published the Transmission Access Review, with Ofgem, that set out principles for grid access reform in particular that new generators should be offered firm connection dates reasonably consistent with project development timescales.
	Once connected, renewable and other generators have rights to use the electricity network. It is for each generator to choose when to generate. A wind generator, for example, will be able to run when wind speeds allow, subject to the need to maintain system reliability.

Renewable Energy: Standards

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on whether countries outside the EU supplying renewable energy to the EU should also have adopted a renewable energy target of similar scale to that adopted by the EU.

Mike O'Brien: We are involved in continuing negotiations with EU member states, the Commission and European Parliament on the EU renewable energy directive and are working towards agreement by the end of the year.
	The Government are fully committed to meeting the proposed target of 15 per cent. of UK energy consumption being sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Earlier this year, we consulted on how this might be achieved and, in the light of the results of this consultation, we plan to publish a UK renewable energy strategy in spring 2009.

Solar Power: Africa

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the feasibility of importing solar electricity from Africa using a high voltage direct current grid; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 15 October 2008
	The Government are working to ensure the right framework and incentives are in place to encourage investment in bringing forward a range of renewable technologies as part of formulating our Renewable Energy Strategy which we will publish next spring. Our consultation on it closed on 26 September and we will be considering representations to it in finalising our strategy.

Water Power

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment has been made of the potential contribution water wheels could make to the production of energy from renewable sources.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 20 October 2008
	No assessment has been made of the potential contribution that water wheels could make to the production of energy. However work is currently being undertaken by the British Hydropower Association, co-funded by DECC and the Welsh Assembly Government, into the potential for hydropower in England and Wales. This study does not look specifically at water wheels but hydropower as a whole and should be completed by the end of the autumn. A Scottish hydropower study was recently completed and can be found at
	http://cci.scot.nhs.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0064958.pdf.

Water Power

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of energy in the UK was produced from water wheels situated on major rivers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 20 October 2008
	No research has been undertaken to look specifically at the UK generation from water wheels in the UK.
	For reference, according to the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2008 (5.1) 5089 GWh of electricity in 2007 came from hydropower, of which 535 GWh was from small scale hydro.
	A report by Element Energy jointly funded by BERR and a number of companies, development agencies and trade associations entitled "The Growth Potential for microgeneration in England, Wales and Scotland", estimated that there are between 65-75 micro-hydro installations. The report is available at
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/microgenerationresearch.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  if he will change the planning application process for wind farms to include an assessment of economic viability as part of the application process;
	(2)  if he will change the planning application process for wind farms to include consideration of  (a) the suitability of the topography and  (b) meteorological viability in the application process.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Our planning policy statement (PPS) on climate change expects planning authorities to provide a framework that promotes and encourages renewable energy. The PPS advises planning authorities that they should not require applicants to demonstrate the overall need for renewable energy because new renewable energy projects provide crucial national benefits. Planning authorities are also asked not to question the energy justification for why a proposal must be sited in a particular location as this involves considerations of technical and commercial feasibility (including meteorological and economic viability) which are for the developer concerned.
	When determining planning applications, planning authorities should address the planning issues which arise from the proposed location of renewable energy projects, including the suitability of the topography. These concerns are set out in our published planning policy statements and guidance, together with the wider environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy projects that should also be taken into account.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Cars: Retail Trade

Frank Field: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what response he plans to make to the expiry of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation in 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 20 October 2008
	The current Motor Vehicle Block Exemption is due to expire in 2010. On the basis of detailed discussion with member states, the exemption will either be extended, renegotiated or removed by the European Commission. It is not in the gift of member states.
	Having consulted widely with all areas of the industry and other stakeholders, the Government submitted a response to the Commission on 25 July 2008. The response stated that the UK supports the Commission view that this sector specific block exemption should not be renewed in 2010. This was, however, conditional on provision being made in either the vertical block exemption or other EU Regulations addressing concerns in a number of areas, particularly after-market access to technical information.

Minimum Wage

Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many prosecutions there have been of employers for  (a) failing to pay the national minimum wage and  (b) offences, associated with the national minimum wage, relating to charges levied on employees for accommodation or transport.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	In the great majority of cases where a compliance officer identifies minimum wage arrears, the employer pays any minimum wage arrears without the need for any formal enforcement action.
	Out of the five successful national minimum wage prosecutions, there has been one in respect of the section 31(1) offence relating to an employer refusing or wilfully neglecting to pay the national minimum wage. There have been no prosecutions so far that relate to charges levied on workers for accommodation or transport.

Official Hospitality

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which offices in his Department made arrangements to receive the incoming Secretary of State at the Department's premises on his appointment; and what instructions were given to staff on that reception.

Patrick McFadden: Staff were informed that Peter Mandelson would be arriving in the Department as part of its internal communication policy and in line with practice across Whitehall. They were invited to greet him if they wished.

Solar Power

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department plans to spend on development of solar energy technology in 2008.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The Low Carbon Buildings programme (LCBP), launched in 2006, is the Government's £86 million capital grant programme funding the installation of on-site technologies for householders, communities, public sector and business.
	Phase 1 is a £36 million programme from which from January 2008 we have spent £1,253,515 in grant funding for solar technologies. We anticipate spending an additional £500,000 for the remainder of 2008 based on current commitments. Phase 2 is a £50 million programme which has spent £4,000,000 on solar technologies so far and we forecast a further £1.8 million will be spent this year based on current commitments.
	Electricity generated from solar PV is also eligible for support under the renewables obligation (RO), which is the Government's main mechanism for encouraging new renewable electricity generation. Generators currently receive one renewables obligation certificate (ROC) for every lMWh of renewable electricity. Under reforms to the RO, we are proposing that solar PV receive two ROCs per MWh.

Trade: Canada

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the value of trade between the UK and Canada was in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: The data requested are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   UK exports of goods to Canada  UK exports of services to Canada  UK imports of goods from Canada  UK imports of services from Canada 
			 2003 3,239 1,595 3,664 1,002 
			 2004 3,340 1,782 4,194 1,049 
			 2005 3,277 1,756 4,157 1,164 
			 2006 3,894 2,019 4,954 1,348 
			 2007 3,261 2,473 5,775 1,397 
			  Source:  UK Balance of Payments Pink Book, 2008 edition.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department and its agencies are members of the  (a) Classic,  (b) Classic Plus,  (c) Nuvos and  (d) Premium civil service pension schemes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Here is the breakdown of membership of the different Civil Service Pension schemes for staff in DCMS and The Royal Parks.
	
		
			   DCMS  (%)  The Royal Parks  (%) 
			 Classic 307 62.5 42 44 
			 Classic Plus 22 4.5  7.5 
			 Nuvos 10 2 11 11.5 
			 Premium 143 29 28 29.5 
		
	
	A small number of staff have opted out of joining any of the available Civil Service pension schemes; currently 11 (2 per cent.) in DCMS and 7 (7.5 per cent.) in The Royal Parks.

Sport England: Public Appointments

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1206W, on Sport England: public appointments, what the reason is for the most recent delay in appointing a new chairman of Sport England; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 27 October 2008
	We have decided to recruit a deputy chair to support the chair. Due to the complementary nature of these roles, the chair appointment has been delayed to allow a single competition process. Both of these posts will be ministerial appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and appointed through open competition. Both posts have now been advertised.
	The chair and deputy chair will play a critical role in delivering the new Sport England strategy, which aims to build the foundation of sporting success through the creation of a world leading community sports system.

Sports

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many community amateur sports clubs there are in  (a) Bassetlaw constituency,  (b) Nottinghamshire and  (c) England.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have removed one club from the Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) register in the last six months following the club's dissolution.
	HMRC do not separately identify CASCs by constituency. As of 30 October 2008, according to HMRC records, there are 78 registered CASCs with a Nottinghamshire postcode.
	At the end of August 2008 there were 4,965 sports clubs registered with HMRC as CASCs. A list of registered clubs is published on the HMRC website at
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/CASC/clubs.htm.
	HMRC does not hold figures on numbers of CASC registrations broken down by sport.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the  (a) total payload and  (b) flexibility of the weapons system of the (i) Tornado aircraft to be deployed in Afghanistan and (ii) Harrier aircraft to be withdrawn from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: A comprehensive assessment has been made of the relative capabilities of the Tornado and Harrier Weapons Systems in terms of payload and flexibility. Both aircraft have similar capability and are fully capable of meeting all of their commitments in Afghanistan.

Armed Forces: Electoral Register

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of service personnel in  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Navy and  (c) the Royal Air Force are registered to vote.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is contained in the Service Voting Survey 2007 Report which was placed in the Library of the House on 7 July 2008.

Armed Forces: Financial Services

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support or advice is available to armed services personnel in financial difficulty or debt.

Bob Ainsworth: Where service personnel find themselves facing financial difficulty the chain of command, welfare officers and pay staff can offer general guidance and signposting to specialist support agencies where appropriate. Each of the services also offers similar support through the single service websites. The MOD is currently working with the Financial Services Authority to ensure that all service personnel receive financial awareness training.
	In addition, the Minimum Drawing Rate ensures that deductions from pay cannot reduce a service person's monthly pay beneath a minimum level. With the introduction of Pay as You Dine, measures are in place to ensure that three meals a day are always available to those facing financial difficulties.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in  (a) single living and  (b) service family accommodation have defaulted on their rent payments in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: Charges for accommodation for service personnel are deducted from an individual's pay at source, therefore it is not possible to default on rent payments.
	Non-service personnel who occupy service accommodation are billed directly but this information is not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to identify how many have defaulted on rent payments.

Armed Forces: International Cooperation

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the NATO-supported centres of excellence in  (a) joint air power competence,  (b) defence against terrorism,  (c) naval mine warfare,  (d) combined joint operations from the sea,  (e) civil military operations,  (f) cold weather operations,  (g) joint chemical biological radiation and nuclear defence,  (h) air operations analysis and simulation and  (i) command and control.

John Hutton: We sponsor and provide personnel to those COE that generate a capability that we are unable to create in-country or within the existing NATO framework and that are of particular benefit to the UK. Occasionally, we provide UK expertise for limited periods of time to those COE that provide useful capability but which we are unable to support as a full MOU signatory.
	HQ Allied Command Transformation is responsible for COE accreditation and oversight. However, we require all UK personnel posted to COE to provide regular reports to the lead organisation within the MOD on the activities and the operational value of the COE. These reports are used to determine future levels of UK commitment.
	Currently we support the Joint Air Competence, Defence Against Terrorism, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea and Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Defence COE but not the Civil Military Operations, Naval Mine Warfare, Cold Weather Operations, Air Operations Analysis and Simulation and Command and Control COE.

Armed Forces: Young People

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that parents or responsible adults are consulted before the recruitment of minors to the armed services; and what procedures are in place to ensure such consultation takes place in circumstances where the parents of the minor have separated.

Bob Ainsworth: During the recruit selection process staff at the armed forces careers offices provide comprehensive written and verbal guidance to all potential recruits, in particular those under 18 years of age, and their parents regarding their terms of service and rights to discharge. Parents/guardians of applicants aged under 18 are required to complete a formal written consent form before the young person can apply to join and again before the applicant can enter service. The detailed conditions for applicants who are under 18 years of age are:
	Where the young person is living with both parents, the signatures of both parents are necessary.
	Where the young person is living with only one parent, the signature of that parent is required.
	Where the young person is not living with either of his/her parents, the signature of a person (whether or not a parent) who has parental responsibility in respect of the young person, and whose whereabouts are known or can, after reasonable enquiry can be ascertained, is required.
	Where the young person is the subject of a supervision order, the signature of a person authorised by the supervising authority is necessary in addition to the signatures referred to above. The date of expiry of the Order is also to be given.
	Where the young person is the subject of a care order, the only signature required is that of a person authorised by the local authority concerned.

Arms Trade

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the establishment of common international standards for the export, import and transfer of conventional arms.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are strongly in favour of establishing common international standards for the export, import and transfer of conventional arms. That is why the UK has taken an international lead in establishing an Arms Trade treaty (ATT). Together with six other countries, we have been pressing for such a treaty to be agreed at the UN. At this year's First Committee of the UN General Assembly, the UK has co-authored a resolution proposing further work at the UN in 2009 aimed at establishing an ATT. Achieving an ATT is a complex process, which will take time, but we have made good progress, and we will continue to work actively towards achieving our goal.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary launched a new phase of the UK's campaign towards an ATT by hosting a meeting of key stakeholders from industry, civil society, academia and the media in London on 9 September. In addition, I hosted a briefing on 9 October for the London-based Diplomatic Corps setting out the Government's support for an ATT and encouraging active international engagement in the UN process.

Departmental Civil Servants

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants were promoted in each year since 1998.

Kevan Jones: Prior to April 2005, data on the number of civil servants promoted in each year since 1998 were not held centrally. To provide the information would require asking Business Partners to trawl their records and this could be done only at disproportionate cost. The number of civil servants who were substantively promoted from April 2005 to date is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Total 
			 2005 855 
			 2006 489 
			 2007 499 
			 2008 492 
			  Note:  These figures do not include individuals who advance or progress within a pay band.

Departmental Motor Vehicles

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policies his Department has in place to support British motor manufacturers.

Quentin Davies: The Department's policy on the acquisition of vehicles, and motor trade assemblies/parts, is to seek best overall economic advantage in the supply arrangements. EC procurement rules prohibit preferential treatment of UK providers and MOD pursues the normal EC prescribed competitive route, where those rules apply.
	The MOD does, however, consider wider economic factors, such as the effect on British industry, when looking at the options for significant purchases. The MOD also pursues a policy of maximum competition within the sub-contract supply chain with a view to incentivise innovation and maximise opportunities for small to medium enterprises.

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding has been agreed with each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies for the period 2008 to 2011.

Kevan Jones: The Department has allocated the following levels of funding for the current financial year for the Department's non-departmental public bodies:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Royal Naval Museum 1,113,000 
			 Royal Navy Submarine Museum 584,000 
			 Royal Marines Museum 779,000 
			 Fleet Air Arm Museum 624,000 
			 National Army Museum 5,591,000 
			 Royal Air Force Museum 7,189,000

Departmental Retirement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving armed services personnel have taken voluntary early retirement in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of trained UK Regular Forces service personnel who have taken early voluntary retirement is recorded in tables one to eight of TSP5 (UK Regular Forces Outflow From Trained Strength to Civil Life) as outflow type "Voluntary Outflow".
	TSP5 is published monthly, the current September 2008 publication includes time series back to 1998-99 and can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=60&pubType=1&date=2008-10-14&disText=01%20Sep%202008&from=historic&topDate=2009-09-23&PublishTime=09:30:00
	Copies of TSP 5 are also available in the Library of the House.

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use his Department has made of Dorneywood for official engagements in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, column 90-91W.

EU Code of Conduct on Conventional Arms Transfers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU Code of Conduct on Conventional Arms Transfers.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government believe that the EU Code of Conduct on Conventional Arms provides a robust and effective system for all member states of the EU to assess their strategic exports.
	The Government are constantly reviewing application of the code, both domestically and by our EU partners. If cases come to light suggesting that the code is being interpreted inconsistently by our EU partners, the Government pursue this through discussions at the EU Council Working Group on Conventional Arms (COARM) in Brussels which is responsible for the implementation of the code of conduct. The development at COARM of the User's Guide on the Code of Conduct (published in full in this year's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls), has helped to reduce the number of these cases.

Kenley Airfield

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 17 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2174W, on Kenley airfield, where the fence is stored; what condition it is in; and whether it is compatible with the proposed new planning application.

Kevan Jones: The fence purchased by the MOD is stored in the No 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron compound at Kenley Airfield and is in good condition. The revised fence design developed in consultation with local authorities and included in the new planning application will use a small proportion of the fence already procured.

Navy: Reserve Forces

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the availability of suitable Royal Navy Reserve candidates for the post of Commander Maritime Reserves;
	(2)  what consultations he has had with Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists on the possibility of replacing Commander Maritime Reserves with a regular Royal Navy officer.

Bob Ainsworth: In November 2006, the then Commander Maritime Reserves informed the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Marine Reserve that a future incumbent of his post could either be a regular or reservist officer. It was also informed that the basis for this selection would be completely on merit. A number of candidates were considered for the post of Commander Maritime Reserves at a board convened in September 2008. The candidates were either members of the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marine Reserve, the Royal Fleet Reserve or the Active List of regular servicemen and women. The appointment of a regular officer as Commander Maritime Reserves is entirely consistent with the Royal Navy's policy of achieving full professional integration of its maritime reserves. All candidates were both reported on and considered for promotion under the common Royal Navy system of career management and promotion appropriate to the post. A number of regular senior posts within the Royal Navy remain open for competition from officers of the Royal Naval Reserve who are suitably qualified and can offer appropriate availability.

Satellites

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use his Department makes of data obtained from earth observation satellites; and what payment is made for such data, where applicable.

Bob Ainsworth: MOD uses data from earth observation satellites principally to deepen its understanding of meteorological, geographical and hydrographical situations. This data provide important background and context for military commanders in the planning of exercises and operations. In addition, the Met Office uses data from earth observation satellites for weather prediction and climate monitoring purposes.
	We use data from a global network of meteorological and climate monitoring satellites and contribute financially to the European component of this network through our contribution to EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites). Subscription levels are on average approximately £33 million per year.
	Outside of EUMETSAT, departmental expenditure for the acquisition of data in 2007-08 was just over £434,000.

Trident Missiles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for measures  (a) to further reduce the operational status of the UK's Trident system and  (b) increase transparency with regard to the capabilities of the UK's Trident system as agreed in the plan for action at the 2000 review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty.

John Hutton: Our plans for the deterrent are set out in the White Paper "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent" (Cm 6994), which was published on 4 December 2006. This White Paper also provides a clear and transparent statement of the capabilities of the UK's Trident system.

USA: Armed Forces

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private prosecutions have been brought against members of the United States visiting forces in each year since 2000; and how many were successful in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence holds no records regarding private prosecutions of US visiting forces personnel.

World War II: Anniversaries

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a representative of his Department will attend the 65th D-Day Anniversary Parade in Normandy.

Kevan Jones: So far as I am aware, no invitation has been received from the French Government for ministerial or other senior representation at a 65th D-day Anniversary Parade in Normandy next June; should an invitation be received nearer the date of the anniversary, it will be considered carefully. An Army band participates annually in the Normandy commemorations and one is scheduled to participate in 2009.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consideration he gave to including cost projections in relation to  (a) police enforcement and  (b) changes in trading standards arrangements in his Department's impact assessment relating to the Government's alcohol strategy; what estimate he has made of these costs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of changes in the level of licensing fees payable by alcohol vendors in respect of each of the policy options set out in his Department's further consultation on its alcohol strategy in July 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: If the Government decide to take regulatory action, the Department and the Home Office will draw up final impact assessments, taking account of evidence submitted during the consultation period.

Breast Feeding: Telephone Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what date the national breastfeeding helpline went live; how many calls it has received in each month since that date; and what steps have been taken by his Department to promote awareness of it;
	(2)  how much it costs a member of the public to call the national breastfeeding helpline; and if he will make calls to it free of charge;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent on the national breastfeeding helpline in each month since its inception.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Breastfeeding helpline was launched in February 2008 linking up with two of the existing helplines run by the voluntary organisations. The combined line enables callers local access to advice and support from trained breastfeeding counsellors.
	The helpline has received in total 23,728 calls to date. The number of calls received since February 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 February 2,543 
			 March 2,524 
			 April 2,762 
			 May 2,982 
			 June 2,941 
			 July 3,282 
			 August 3,528 
			 September 3,166 
			 Total 23,728 
		
	
	The helpline has been promoted during this year's National Breastfeeding Awareness Week in May 2008. It is also promoted via the NHS breastfeeding website and included in all relevant departmental publications.
	The calls are charged at a local rate 8p for the first minute and 5p per minute thereafter. The Department at present has no plans to provide free access to the helpline.
	The Department has allocated £150,000 to fund the helpline in the year 2008-09 and has also contributed £20,555 towards set-up costs.

Contraceptives: Depression

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many females were diagnosed with depression triggered by an oral contraceptive in each of the last five years, broken down by oral contraceptive.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally.

Dementia: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with  (a) Alzheimer's disease and  (b) other forms of dementia in the Stroud constituency.

Phil Hope: The national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) records the number of people recorded on practice disease registers with a diagnosis of dementia but this does not distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The publication "Revisions to the GMS Contract 2006/07" states that Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50-75 per cent. of cases of dementia. This register count is available for the two latest releases of QOF, covering 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	We are unable to supply this information for parliamentary constituencies as the data are only available for general practices (GPs) and can be aggregated to primary care trust (PCT) level. We have supplied information for the smallest health area that covers Stroud, namely Gloucestershire PCT.
	These QOF figures are given in the following table. They are the totals for patients with dementia.
	
		
			  Q O F data—Number of patients on the dementia disease registers 
			   Financial year 
			   2007-08  2006-07 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 2,825 2,707 
			  Notes: 1. QOF is the national Quality and Outcomes Framework, introduced as part of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract on 1 April 2004. 2. Participation by practices in the QOF is voluntary, though participation rates are very high, with most Personal Medical Services (PMS) practices also taking part. 3. The published QOF information was derived from the Quality Management Analysis System (QMAS), a national system developed by NHS Connecting for Health. 4. QMAS uses data from general practices to calculate individual practices' QOF achievement. QMAS is a national IT system developed by NHS Connecting for Health to support the QOF. 5. The system calculates practice achievement against national targets. It gives general practices, primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) objective evidence and feedback on the quality of care delivered to patients. 6. The Quality Management Analysis System captures the number of patients on the various disease registers for each practice. The number of patients on the clinical registers can be used to calculate measures of disease prevalence, expressing the number of patients on each register as a percentage of the number of patients on practices' lists. 7. Figures presented here are just the number of patients on the disease register for dementia.   Source: The data supplied in Table 1 are published on the website of the Information Centre for health and social care. (a) For 2007-08 see the Quality and Outcomes Framework 2007-08 publication data tables at the following link (published 30 September 2008): http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2007/08/data-tables. The table for PCT level QOF for 2007-08 can be found at this link: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2007-08/NewFilesGS/QOF0708_PCTs_Prevalence.xls This publication has been placed in the library. (b) For 2006-07 see Quality and Outcomes Framework 2006-07 publication data tables at the following link (published 28 September 2007): http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2006/07/qof-2006-07-data-tables. The table for PCT level QOF for 2006-07 can be found at this link: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2006-07/QOF0607_PCTs_ Prevalence.xls. This publication has been placed in the library.

Departmental NDPBs

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to review the efficacy of the  (a) Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and Environment Committee,  (b) Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment Committee,  (c) Independent Reconfiguration Panel and  (d) National Joint Registry Steering Committee.

Dawn Primarolo: The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is reviewed periodically by the Department and was last reviewed in 2007. The Department concluded that the committee was a cost effective way for Government Departments and Agencies to obtain independent advice from leading UK experts in the field.
	The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment is reviewed periodically by the Government and was last reviewed in 2003. The Department concluded that the committee was a cost effective way for Government Departments and Agencies to obtain independent advice from leading UK experts in the field.
	The Independent Reconfiguration Panel is subject to annual review by the Department. Further information can be found on the Panel's website at:
	www.irpanel.org.uk.
	The last review of the National Joint Registry Steering Committee (NJRSC) was carried out in January 2005, and resulted in establishment of the NJRSC as an advisory non-departmental public body. In April 2008, the National Joint Registry was incorporated into the National Clinical Audit and Patient's Outcomes programme. The Department of Health is currently considering what consequential changes to the accountability arrangements for the NJRSC are necessary to ensure it continues to discharge its functions in an efficient and effective manner.

Departmental Pay

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many post holders in his Department receive a London living allowance of £8,400 per month.

Ben Bradshaw: No post holders receive a London living allowance of £8,400 a month.

Departmental Pay

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the highest bonus was paid to any post holder in his Department in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The highest bonus paid to a post holder in the Department in 2007-08 was £27,500.

Departmental Standards

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the terms are of the individual performance agreement of the Commercial Director of his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: The individual performance agreement for 2007-08 with the Commercial Director of the Department included objectives to do with supporting the NHS Reform Agenda, reviewing the activities and building the capacity of the Commercial Directorate to improve engagement with the national health service, reviewing and developing procurement models for health, putting in place programmes to deliver comprehensive spending review savings, contributing to the Department's implementation of its Capability Review findings, developing commercial skills and a set of values within the Commercial Directorate, and demonstrating corporate leadership.

Elderly: Health Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reform care provided by the NHS for the elderly.

Phil Hope: Lord Darzi's recent review, "High Quality Care For All", published on 4 July 2007 sets out a framework for improving the quality of care for everybody that uses the NHS including older people. A copy of this review has already been placed in the Library.

Food: Safety

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) inspections and  (b) audits the Food Standards Agency undertakes of local authority premises; and what plans there are to incorporate such inspections into comprehensive area assessments.

Dawn Primarolo: Local authorities are responsible for the inspection of food premises within their area. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for the audit and monitoring of all local authority food law enforcement activities against a standard which forms part of the framework agreement on local authority food law enforcement. This includes audit of the local authority food law enforcement services and their risk-based food business inspection programmes. Details of the framework agreement, and published local authority monitoring and audit findings, are available from the FSA's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/foodlaw/frameagree/
	The final consultation on the comprehensive area assessment (CM) has just closed. The final proposals are due to be announced in the new year.

Health

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living in  (a) Warrington,  (b) the North West and  (c) England have been diagnosed with (i) coronary heart disease, (ii) diabetes and (iii) food related allergies.

Ann Keen: The Department does not collect information in the form requested. However, the national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which many general practices participate in, records the number of people recorded on certain practice disease registers. Such registers exist for both coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes.
	The CHD register includes all patients who have had coronary artery revascularisation procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, patients with Cardiac Syndrome X will not generally be included in the CHD register.
	The diabetes register includes patients aged 17 years and over with diabetes mellitus. As the care of children with diabetes mellitus is generally under the control of specialists, the diabetes register generally excludes those patients age 16 and under.
	The following table below sets out the number of people on CHD registers and diabetes registers for Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) and North West Strategic Health Authority.
	The Department does not collect any data on food related allergies and does not have figures for the rest of the United Kingdom.
	
		
			  Patient register  Number of patients 
			  Warrington PCT 2007-08  
			 Coronary Heart Disease 7,728 
			 Diabetes 8,347 
			   
			  North West SHA 2007-08  
			 Coronary Heart Disease 308,187 
			 Diabetes 296,826 
			   
			  England 2007-08  
			 Coronary Heart Disease 1,892,432 
			 Diabetes 2,088,335

Health Professions: Manpower

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals of each healthcare profession there have been in the Newly Qualified Healthcare Professionals Pool in each month since its creation; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The data requested are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of professionals probably available each month 
			   General Adult  Children's  Mental Health  Learning Disabilities  Midwife  Chiropody/  Podiatry  Dietetics  Occupational Therapy 
			 April 2007 216 40 57 6 20 10 5 51 
			 May 2007 556 91 135 13 60 19 20 81 
			 June 2007 757 116 190 19 77 21 26 115 
			 July 2007 1017 147 271 26 109 32 37 192 
			 August 2007 1136 152 304 31 136 42 50 200 
			 September 2007 1127 154 315 38 143 40 46 209 
			 October 2007 1203 150 339 41 155 49 47 225 
			 November 2007 1142 132 334 44 151 44 38 186 
			 December 2007 1059 118 319 37 135 40 33 167 
			 January 2008 1027 109 320 38 134 39 33 164 
			 February 2008 986 103 322 42 118 35 34 145 
			 March 2008 774 81 281 42 93 23 28 131 
			 April 2008 721 77 272 40 85 23 26 126 
			 May 2008 647 70 251 34 68 16 23 115 
			 June 2008 619 79 236 37 65 15 20 111 
			 July 2008 572 74 236 26 61 20 21 118 
			 August 2008 528 70 220 27 51 23 27 112 
			 September 2008 529 67 229 30 43 26 34 122 
			 October 2008 452 52 222 32 41 24 32 120 
		
	
	
		
			   Orthoptics  Physiotherapy  Radiography Diagnostic  Radiography Therapeutic  Prosthetics and Orthotists  Speech and Language Therapy  Audiology 
			 April 2007 1 55 15 0 0 19 2 
			 May 2007 3 214 38 3 1 37 6 
			 June 2007 4 379 60 6 2 45 10 
			 July 2007 7 666 75 8 2 75 10 
			 August 2007 8 860 75 8 2 90 11 
			 September 2007 8 892 69 6 2 89 13 
			 October 2007 8 952 68 6 2 97 14 
			 November 2007 7 907 61 6 3 94 13 
			 December 2007 5 825 60 7 5 84 10 
			 January 2008 5 803 58 7 5 81 14 
			 February 2008 6 784 56 7 6 78 15 
			 March 2008 5 651 45 7 5 63 13 
			 April 2008 5 598 43 4 5 61 11 
			 May 2008 3 502 34 4 5 45 13 
			 June 2008 4 544 32 6 5 38 15 
			 July 2008 6 737 35 6 5 49 16 
			 August 2008 6 828 35 5 5 55 15 
			 September 2008 4 872 41 5 5 58 13 
			 October 2008 3 793 39 2 5 64 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Professionals joining each month 
			   General Adult  Children's  Mental Health  Learning Disabilities  Midwife  Chiropody/  Podiatry  Dietetics  Occupational Therapy 
			 April 2007 216 40 57 6 20 10 5 51 
			 May 2007 340 52 78 7 40 9 15 30 
			 June 2007 226 31 61 7 21 6 8 38 
			 July 2007 286 39 85 7 36 12 14 84 
			 August 2007 215 25 65 9 32 11 13 29 
			 September 2007 197 31 63 8 26 2 1 23 
			 October 2007 186 13 53 4 21 10 2 28 
			 November 2007 143 9 43 6 15 1 4 11 
			 December 2007 80 7 25 2 8 2 2 8 
			 January 2008 109 7 28 5 10 1 2 15 
			 February 2008 107 7 30 7 8 0 4 10 
			 March 2008 99 14 34 8 10 1 0 14 
			 April 2008 92 11 34 6 8 4 0 12 
			 May 2008 76 8 32 5 8 3 1 14 
			 June 2008 80 13 24 5 8 1 4 16 
			 July 2008 75 14 38 1 6 8 5 24 
			 August 2008 70 13 36 6 2 7 7 19 
			 September 2008 113 9 47 7 4 4 10 32 
			 October 2008 10 5 31 8 9 2 3 20 
		
	
	
		
			   Orthoptics  Physiotherapy  Radiography Diagnostic  Radiography Therapeutic  Prosthetics and Orthotists  Speech and Language Therapy  Audiology 
			 April 2007 1 55 15 0 0 19 2 
			 May 2007 2 159 23 3 1 18 4 
			 June 2007 1 169 23 3 1 11 4 
			 July 2007 3 289 17 2 0 30 1 
			 August 2007 2 210 8 0 0 23 3 
			 September 2007 1 92 6 0 0 7 2 
			 October 2007 0 112 10 0 0 13 3 
			 November 2007 0 55 1 0 1 9 3 
			 December 2007 0 20 4 3 2 4 1 
			 January 2008 0 27 2 0 0 4 4 
			 February 2008 1 78 5 0 1 9 2 
			 March 2008 0 55 2 0 1 3 0 
			 April 2008 0 46 6 0 0 5 0 
			 May 2008 0 25 1 0 1 1 3 
			 June 2008 1 141 4 3 1 3 4 
			 July 2008 2 262 10 1 2 17 4 
			 August 2008 0 164 7 1 1 13 2 
			 September 2008 0 126 9 1 1 10 2 
			 October 2008 0 65 6 0 0 12 4

Health Visitors: Manpower

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors were employed by each strategic health authority in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2002 and  (c) 2007.

Ann Keen: The number of health visitors employed by each strategic health authority in 1997, 2002 and 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: health visitors in England by strategic health authority area as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   1997  2002  2007 
			 England 12,410 12,774 11,569 
			 North East Strategic Health Authority Area 645 668 698 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority Area 1,899 1,968 1,897 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Strategic Health Authority
			 Area 1,293 1,413 1,301 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority Area 1,025 1,016 925 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority Area 1,302 1,391 1,269 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority Area 1,150 1,148 1,095 
			 London Strategic Health Authority Area 1,876 1,763 1,613 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority Area 990 1,102 778 
			 South Central Strategic Health Authority Area 1,029 1,064 856 
			 South West Strategic Health Authority Area 1,201 1,241 1,137 
			  Notes:  1. More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted in 232 headcount duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census  2. Data Quality  Workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source:  The NHS Information Centre Non Medical Workforce Census.

Hospitals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals he has visited in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has officially visited 30 hospitals in the last 12 months.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve  (a) the rate of infection control and  (b) patient safety in the NHS.

Ann Keen: The Department's strategy for reducing infections in the national health service is set out in "Clean, safe care", which has already been placed in the Library.
	Infection control is one of the five top priorities in the NHS operating framework for 2008-09 and MRSA and  Clostridium difficile targets to 2010-11 have been set under the "Better Care for All" public service agreement. "Clean, safe care" outlines the comprehensive range of measures being employed, backed by £270 million additional investment per year by 2010-11 to tackle health care associated infections (HCAIs) and improve cleanliness.
	Steps include screening all elective admissions to hospitals for MRSA by March 2009, and all emergency admissions by 2010-11; a technology programme designed to accelerate the development and uptake of new technologies to improve infection control; and the development of a new national standard for cleanliness in the national health service. The Department is re-launching its nationwide antibiotic awareness campaign alongside an HCAI patient campaign.
	These measures should support the NHS to meet their legal requirements on infection control, as set out in the "Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections" (which has already been placed in the Library). All acute NHS trusts are inspected annually against the "Code of Practice" by the Healthcare Commission. From April 2009, the new Care Quality Commission will assess compliance against the "Code of Practice" and will have a broader range of powers to ensure high performance in infection control.
	Improving patient safety has been a fundamental priority running through our policies to improve the quality of NHS care. We have put in place national standards for safety. We also established the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to promote reporting of adverse events and support the NHS to manage known risks. We have made good progress in the last decade on establishing a unified system for reporting and analysis when things go wrong.
	"Safety First: A report for patients, clinicians and healthcare managers" sets out the Department's current agenda for patient safety. It made 14 recommendations to ensure that patient safety remains a priority for the Government and the NHS.
	The final report of Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review, "High Quality Care For All", states that continuously improving patient safety should be at the top of the health care agenda for the 21st century. To achieve this, from April 2009, the NPSA will run an additional, dedicated national patient safety initiative to tackle central line catheter-related bloodstream infections. It will continue to run regular patient safety initiatives like this in future. The Agency will also work with stakeholders in this country to draw up its own list of 'Never Events' such as wrong site surgery. From next year, primary care trusts will select their own priorities from this list in their annual operating plan.

Maternity Services

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to respond to the National Audit Office report, Caring for Vulnerable Babies, of 19 December 2008, HC 101; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The issues raised in the National Audit Office report of December 2007 were the subject of a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, "Caring for vulnerable babies: the reorganisation of neonatal services in England", published in June 2008. A copy of the Government's Treasury Minute response (Cm 7453) to the PAC report, published on 16 October 2008, is available in the Library.
	The Government are committed to the provision of safe, high quality neonatal services. While improvements have been made over recent years, we recognise there is still more to do. In the 2008-09 national health service operating framework we identified neonatal services as a priority and asked primary care trusts to ensure that sufficient numbers of neonatal teams are in place to meet local needs. In addition, the Department has established a Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, to support the NHS to identify and deliver further improvements to neonatal services. As part of its work programme, the Taskforce is working to develop quality standards for a comprehensive neonatal workforce and will develop targeted action plans to assist local decision making regarding staff shortages, incorporating skill mix, staffing levels, retention, recruitment and commissioning of education and training.

Medical Treatments

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what treatments have been considered but not recommended for use by the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the last five years; what conditions such treatments were principally intended to treat; and what judgment NICE reached on the efficacy of each such treatment.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is shown in the following table. It is not the role of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to assess the efficacy of drugs as this is a matter for the appropriate licensing authority.
	
		
			  Treatments not recommended in NICE'S published technology appraisals or only recommended for use in research 
			   Appraisal  Condition 
			 November 2003 Anakinra (Kineret) Rheumatoid arthritis 
			 August 2005 Raltitrexed (Tomudex) Colorectal cancer 
			 September 2006 Paclitaxel (Taxol) Breast cancer 
			 November 2006 Memantine (Ebixa) Alzheimer's Disease 
			 January 2007 Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Cetuximab (Erbitux) Colorectal cancer 
			 January 2007 Fludarabine (Fludara) Lymphocytic leukaemia 
			 August 2007 Permetrexed (Alimta) Non-small cell lung cancer 
			 April 2008 Infliximab (Remicade) Ulcerative colitis 
			 April 2008 Abatacept (Orencia) Refractory rheumatoid arthritis 
			 August 2008 Telbivudine (Sebivo) Hepatitis B 
			 August 2008 Pegaptanib (Macugen) Wet Age Related Macugen Degeneration (AMD) 
			 October 2008 Raloxifene (Evista) Primary Prevention of Osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women

Medical Treatments

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued guidance to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the weight to be accorded to representations from patient groups in its evaluation of the value for money of treatments; and what weight was given by NICE to the representations of patient groups during its evaluation of sequential use of anti-TNF treatments.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not issued any guidance to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the weight that should be accorded to patient groups in its technology appraisals. NICE is an independent body and is responsible for the development of its methods. It consults with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of its methods and in the production of guidance, in accordance with its published processes.

Mental Health Services: Patient Choice Schemes

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the rights to choose both treatment and providers outlined in the draft NHS Constitution extend to mental health.

Ann Keen: The draft constitution states that
	"you have a right to make choices about your NHS care. The options available to you will develop over time and depend on your individual need".
	In the Handbook to the draft constitution it states that directions will be given by the Secretary of State under section 8 of the NHS Act to require primary care trusts to ensure that patients have a right to choose their providers. The directions will specify which services are covered by these arrangements and any exceptions. We have recently consulted on the draft constitution and the Constitutional Advisory forum will publicly report to the NHS Chief Executive and Ministers on the NHS consultation in due course.
	We have conducted national consultations on choice in mental health, and recognise there is a strong demand from mental health service users for more personalised services. We are seeking to enable a choice of evidence-based psychological interventions to be available for people with more common mental health problems, like depression and anxiety disorders, entering new services.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to  (a) reduce the number of people with mental health problems being sent to prison and  (b) improve the quality and availability of mental health care in prisons.

Phil Hope: The Government have asked Lord Bradley to consider the diversion of offenders with mental health problems and learning disabilities away from prison and we look forward to considering his report which we expect will be available at the end of the year.
	The Department, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, will publish its strategy "Improving Health Supporting Justice" next year, incorporating our views on the quality and future direction of health care in prisons following a public consultation. The strategy will take account of the recommendations that Lord Bradley will make.
	This builds on the work already taking place each year over 500 mentally disordered offenders are diverted to secure hospital settings and over 900 people a year are transferred from prison if they need specialist treatment in hospital. In 2007, 28 per cent. more prisoners, with mental illness too severe for prison were transferred to hospital than in 2002—up to 926 from 723. Tighter monitoring identifies prisoners waiting an unacceptably long period for transfer to hospital, and a protocol has been issued setting out what must be done when a prisoner has been waiting for a place for more than three months following acceptance by the national health service.
	All prisoners assessed at the point of reception into prison and those at risk of having a mental health problem, or vulnerable to suicide, are referred for a mental health assessment to the mental health in-reach team. Nearly £20 million per annum is being invested recurrently in mental health in-reach. There are 102 mental health in-reach teams with all prisons having access to them: a total of 360 extra staff altogether.
	There are new systems to monitor and support those at risk of harming themselves and prison officers are being trained in mental health awareness. £600,000 has been invested over three years to 2009 to train frontline prison staff.
	Furthermore, in relation to the small number of people with a severe personality disorder who are dangerous, the Department and Ministry of Justice is investing in special secure services. This programme has a capacity of over 300 places in two high security prisons (Frankland and Whitemoor); a female prison (Low Newton in Durham) and two high security hospitals (Broadmoor and Rampton). They provide essential clinical services for dangerous offenders whose offending is linked to severe personality disorder.

Midwives: Redundancy

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS midwives in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust have received redundancy notices in the last two years.

Ann Keen: Data are held at trust level. Hemel Hempstead General hospital is part of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. There were no compulsory redundancies for midwives at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2006-07 or 2007-08.

Multiple Sclerosis

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to improve healthcare services for those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Ann Keen: The National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions was published in March 2005. This has already been planned in the Library. The framework describes the competences needed to deliver services for people with neurological conditions, including those living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
	The MS risk-sharing scheme, a groundbreaking drug therapy initiative, is a joint venture between the Department, the devolved Administrations, and drug manufacturers. Launched in May 2002, there are now 62 prescribing centres for MS operating across the UK prescribing to more than 7,000 patients who meet the criteria of the Association of British Neurologists, including those with secondary progressive MS.
	The Government have provided funding to increase the number of MS specialist nurses to help support the MS risk-sharing scheme. £800,000 was made available in 2003-04, 2004-05 and £1.2 million in 2005-06 to help meet the costs of employing extra nurses. This funding has now been confirmed for the remainder of the 10 years of the programme.
	The new general practitioner contract includes a national enhanced service for people with MS, and those practices that are willing and able to provide this service are funded for:
	production and maintenance of an up-to-date register of all patients; establishing a lead contact/co-ordinator; regular assessment; training for members of the primary health care team on issues related to MS; carer support; personal health plans; liaison with secondary care and social services; and an annual multi-disciplinary review.

National Child Health Immunisation Board

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the minutes of the 15 October meeting of the National Child Health Immunisation Board.

Dawn Primarolo: There was no National Child Health Immunisation Board meeting held on 15 October 2008. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation met on 15 October 2008, the draft minutes for this meeting will be available on the following website by 26 November 2008. Minutes are confirmed at the following meeting.
	www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/jcvi/

NHS Units

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which NHS paediatric units have closed since 1997;
	(2)  which NHS midwife-led birthing units have closed since 1997;
	(3)  which NHS neonatal units have closed since 1997;
	(4)  which NHS consultant-led maternity units have closed in England since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS: Public Participation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he has received to the consultation on the NHS constitution from  (a) national organisations,  (b) NHS staff and  (c) members of the public, broken down by strategic health authority area of origin.

Ann Keen: We have received 1,008 responses to the consultation on the NHS constitution directly to the Department of Health. This included 174 from national organisations and 761 from individuals, of which 178 identified themselves as NHS staff.
	It is not possible to break this down to give meaningful data on strategic health authority area of origin because individuals who responded directly to the Department were not asked to submit this information.
	In addition to direct responses from individuals and organisations, primary care trusts have been holding local consultation processes that will have reached many more staff and members of the public. The results of these local consultation exercises will also be fed into the national consultation process through strategic health authorities.

Obesity

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in  (a) Warrington and  (b) England have a body mass index which indicates obesity.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Figures for the UK are not available.
	Information on the proportion of children aged two to 15 in England that are obese, broken down by age and broken down by Government office region and strategic health authority (SHA) is collected in the Health Survey for England. This information can be found in "Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 2 Obesity and other risk factors in children", Tables 2.2 and 2.3 on pages 35 and 36 which was published on 31 January 2008. This publication is available in the Library.
	Further information on the proportion of children that are obese in England and in Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) is collected through the National Child Measurement programme (NCMP). The NCMP report provides high-level analysis of the prevalence of obese children, aged four to five years and aged 10-11 years.
	This information is available in the "National Child Measurement Programme: 2006-07 school year, headline results" which was published on 21 February 2008. The prevalence of obese children in England is shown in table 1 (page 3). The prevalence of obese children in the Warrington PCT can be found in table C (pages 39-40). This publication has been placed in the Library.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of 16 to 25-year-olds who have been screened for sexually transmitted infections in  (a) Southampton,  (b) Test Valley borough and  (c) non-metropolitan county of Hampshire in the last period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Data are not collected in the format requested. Data for sexual health screens in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics are only currently collected by strategic health authority (SHA).
	The number of sexual health screens, for all ages, in GUM in the South Central SHA, which covers Southampton, Test Valley borough and the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire, by gender for 2007 are given in the following table.
	
		
			   2007 
			 Male 35,312 
			 Female 40,222 
			 Total 75,534 
			  Notes: 1. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for sexual health screens conducted in GUM clinics only. Sexual health screens conducted in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. 2. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of sexual health screens performed, not the number of patients screened. 3. Data are by area of GUM clinic and not patients' area of residence. 4. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data.  Source: Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns. 
		
	
	In addition, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) provides screening to asymptomatic people aged under 25 years in England and was launched in April 2003.
	Data for the number of Chlamydia screens among those aged 16-24 years resident in Southampton City primary care trust (PCT) and Hampshire PCT as part of the NCSP during the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 are given in the following table:
	
		
			   2007  2008  
			   April to June  July to September  October to December  January to March  Annual figure 
			 Southampton City PCT 487 462 679 812 2,440 
			 Hampshire PCT 1,993 2,596 3,337 3,803 11,729 
			  Notes: 1. The data from the NCSP Core Dataset are for Chlamydia screens made outside of GUM clinics only. 2. The data available from the NCSP are the number of screens made and not the number of patients screened.  Source: The NCSP Core Dataset.

Smoking: Expenditure

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect on expenditure by his Department of the ban on smoking in public places and in the workplace; and what estimate he has made of the likely effect on such expenditure over each of the next five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Smokefree legislation was implemented in England on 1 July 2007. Since then, compliance rates have been high with over 98 per cent. of premises over the past year found to be compliant. The Department published the "Smokefree England - One Year On" report in July 2008 that overviews compliance, attitudes and the emerging health benefits from the legislation. This report is available in the Library.
	The estimated costs and benefits of smokefree legislation are set out in the final regulatory impact assessment for smokefree regulations that is also available in the Library. It is still too early to make specific estimates on the actual longer-term impact of smokefree legislation on the Department's overall expenditure.
	Independent academic research shows that smokefree legislation has dramatically improved the quality of air in pubs and bars. Findings from academic research in Scotland suggest that smokefree legislation can reduce the number of hospital admissions for heart attack, although research is still ongoing to identify similar benefits in England. Research published by Cancer Research UK in July 2008 suggested that smokefree legislation in England has helped at least 400,000 smokers to quit and will help prevent an estimated 40,000 deaths over the next 10 years.
	The Department will undertake a comprehensive review of smokefree legislation in 2010.

Tuberculosis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) tuberculosis and  (b) drug-resistant tuberculosis there were in England in each year since 2001, broken down by primary care trust.

Dawn Primarolo: The information has been placed in the Library. Validated data at primary care trust level for 2006 onwards, are not yet complete.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to improve conviction rates in domestic violence cases.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 28 October 2008
	We have a cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan which provides a strategic framework to address domestic violence. One of the objectives is to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence which includes actions to increase conviction rates.
	Work continues on those areas set out in our response to your parliamentary question earlier this year in relation to:
	training and guidance for police officers and Crown prosecutors to improve investigations and increase successful prosecutions
	funding for Independent Domestic Violence Advisers whose involvement with victims of domestic violence has been shown to reduce the number of victims unwilling to support a prosecution
	expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) Programme which recently reached a total of 104 accredited SDVCs across the country.

Driving Offences: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested and  (b) convicted for driving without a licence or insurance in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Available information for proceedings and findings of guilt in magistrates courts for the offence of driving without a licence and using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks within Hertfordshire for the period 2002 to 2006 is provided in the following tables. Data are available at police force level only.
	
		
			  Table A: Proceedings and findings of guilt at magistrates courts for the offence of driving without a licence( 1) , within Hertfordshire, 2002-06 
			  Number of offences 
			  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total  findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt 
			 5,039 2,594 5,225 3,211 4,967 3,406 5,057 3,625 4,347 3,272 
			 (1) An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 87 (1) and (2) as amended.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken Into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Proceedings and findings of guilt at magistrates courts for the 'offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks'( 1)  within Hertfordshire police force area, 2002-06 
			  Number of offences 
			  2002  2003( 2)  2004  2005  2006 
			  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt 
			 6,612 4,191 7,216 5,078 7,463 5,382 7,763 5,716 7,641 5,849 
			 (1) An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.143(2). (2) As from 1 June 2003, 'driving a motor vehicle while uninsured against third party risks' became a fixed penalty offence.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Electronic Surveillance: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what ground local authorities will have access to the new 12 month database of communications data; what approval process to access such data will be; and with regard to what types of offences local authorities will be able to access the data.

Vernon Coaker: We have published a consultation paper on the retention of internet communications data as the UK is required to complete the transposition of the European Directive 2006/24/EC by 15 March 2009. The proposal is for service providers to retain their data for 12 months, in line with the existing provisions for mobile and fixed line telephony.
	Local authorities access to communications data will be unchanged. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 they can access subscriber data and billing data for the purposes of preventing and detecting crime and preventing disorder.

Emergency Services: Radio

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisations within her responsibilities  (a) already are and  (b) are planned to start using Airwave handsets.

Alan Campbell: Organisations for which the Secretary of State for the Home Department has responsibility and which are already using Airwave handsets are: the 43 police forces of England and Wales, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the United Kingdom Borders Agency.
	No other organisations for which the Secretary of State for the Home Department has responsibility are currently planning to use the Airwave service.

Genetics: Databases

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times personal profiles stored on the national DNA database have been released to  (a) European and  (b) other foreign governments since the database was established.

Alan Campbell: Data on the number of occasions that personal profiles containing DNA data have been sent by the United Kingdom National Central Bureau for Interpol, (based, since April 2006, in the Serious Organised Crime Agency) could not be recovered without disproportionate cost.

Lancashire Constabulary: Special Branch

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding above the rate of inflation Lancashire Constabulary has received to fund Special Branch expansion since 2005.

Vernon Coaker: Specific funding is not provided to police authorities for the provision of in-country special branch units. Police authorities assign funding for these units from the funding available to them through the main police grant and locally raised police precept. A direct comparison between the 2005-06 and 2008-09 levels of main police grant would be misleading because the creation and discontinuation of a number of specific grants in this period have impacted on the level of main police grant, but not on the overall level of funding provided to the police. Nevertheless, since 2005-06 total Government grants to Lancashire police authority has increased from £210,385,869 to £243,114,829, an increase of £32,728,960.
	Dedicated security posts (DSP) funding is provided to police authorities as a contribution to the costs associated with a number of security-related policing functions, including special branch units at ports. It is a longstanding policy not to disclose the capacity of special branches, including providing details of funding for individual forces. The percentage of the total DSP grant allocated to Lancashire constabulary has however, remained relatively static since 2005-06.

Offensive Weapons

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted for possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition in England and Wales in each police force area in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 491W.

Police Patrolling

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were spent on patrol by police officers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Time spent on patrol is the time an officer is patrolling but engaged on no other duties. On this basis, and excluding data for Staffordshire, which are unavailable, 13.8 per cent. of police officer time was spent on patrol in 2007-08.
	A fuller picture of the activities undertaken by a police officer will include not only time on patrol but also other core duties such as responding to 999 calls or community involvement activities. In 2006-07, 64.2 per cent. of police officer time was spent on such front-line duties. Time spent on front-line duties is measured across all forces and published annually. The 2007-08 figure is not yet available.

Police: Bank Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of the budget of each police authority in England and Wales was held in Icelandic bank accounts before the recent collapse of several Icelandic banks;
	(2)  what advice her Department has provided to police authorities in England and Wales which risk losing funds due to Icelandic banking turbulence;
	(3)  whether funding will be provided by her Department to cover any potential budget shortfalls in police authorities in England and Wales due to the loss of funds as a result of Icelandic banking difficulties;
	(4)  what guidance her Department has provided to police authorities in England and Wales on future investment policies.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	The Government have agreed an urgent plan of action with local authorities, including police authorities, for those facing funding difficulties as a result of the closure of several Icelandic banks. My officials are in close touch with the Association of Police Authorities about how we can best provide assistance to their members. We will judge what advice and support is needed on a case by case basis.
	Guidance is provided by CLG which does not provide a list of individual banks or institutions. It is up to individual authorities to judge what a prudent investment might or might not be. The guidance says that local authorities should prioritise security and liquidity of investments.
	
		
			  Police authority investments in Icelandic banks 
			  Police authority  Budget requirement 2008-09 (£ million)  Investments (£ million)  Invested of budget (Percentage) 
			 Avon and Somerset 259.47 0.00 0.00 
			 Bedfordshire 96.06 0.00 0.00 
			 Cambridgeshire 120.65 0.00 0.00 
			 Cheshire 168.06 0.00 0.00 
			 Cleveland 124.62 0.00 0.00 
			 Cumbria 97.40 0.00 0.00 
			 Derbyshire 157.22 0.00 0.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall 268.08 0.00 0.00 
			 Dorset 111.79 7.00 6.26 
			 Durham 116.12 0.00 0.00 
			 Dyfed-Powys 86.96 2.00 2.30 
			 Essex 251.08 0.00 0.00 
			 Gloucestershire 99.14 0.00 0.00 
			 Greater Manchester 544.93 0.00 0.00 
			 Gwent 114.30 1.00 0.87 
			 Hampshire 294.19 0.00 0.00 
			 Hertfordshire 178.22 3.00 1.68 
			 Humberside 169.70 5.75 3.39 
			 Kent 266.88 11.10 4.16 
			 Lancashire 262.07 0.67 0.26 
			 Leicestershire 164.70 0.00 0.00 
			 Lincolnshire 100.64 0.00 0.00 
			 Merseyside 317.10 0.00 0.00 
			 Metropolitan 2,595.00 30.00 1.16 
			 Norfolk 138.29 0.00 0.00 
			 North Wales 129.42 0.00 0.00 
			 Northamptonshire 114.80 0.00 0.00 
			 Northumbria 277.82 3.50 1.26 
			 North Yorkshire 132.21 0.00 0.00 
			 Nottinghamshire 184.69 0.00 0.00 
			 South Wales 240.30 7.00 2.91 
			 South Yorkshire 246.61 0.00 0.00 
			 Staffordshire 176.13 0.00 0.00 
			 Suffolk 106.86 0.00 0.00 
			 Surrey 191.50 1.50 0.78 
			 Sussex 245.08 6.80 2.77 
			 Thames Valley 356.10 5.00 1.40 
			 Warwickshire 85.41 0.00 0.00 
			 West Mercia 190.68 0.00 0.00 
			 West Midlands 543.44 5.40 0.99 
			 West Yorkshire 410.97 6.00 1.46 
			 Wiltshire 99.28 0.00 0.00 
			 Total England and Wales 10,833.99 95.72 0.88 
			  Sources: 1. English Police Authority Budgets: DCLG 2. Welsh Police Authority Budgets: WAG 3. Investments in Icelandic Banks: Association of Police Authorities.

Police: Bureaucracy

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has carried out on the number of police hours saved through the introduction of personal digital assistants for police officers.

Vernon Coaker: The Government have recently provided £50 million to help facilitate the introduction of hand-held computers to frontline police officers. Although the roll out of these devices is still under way, feedback from frontline police officers has made us aware that the quicker (and easier) access to information has helped them to improve both their effectiveness and efficiency, thus enabling them to provide a better quality service to the public.
	The National Policing Improvement Agency is working closely with individual forces on a comprehensive benefits evaluation programme with the objective to provide a robust and evidence-based evaluation of the significant investment in this technology.
	We have also announced a further £25 million of funding for the second phase of this programme and we will report the outcome in due course.

Police: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid  (a) by (i) employees and (ii) employers into and  (b) to those receiving pensions payments from the Police Pension Scheme in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The present system of police pensions financing, under which each police authority pays employer and officer contributions into a separate account out of which pensions are paid, was introduced in April 2006. Where the income into the police authority pensions account from contributions and other payments such as inward transfer values is insufficient to meet the cost of pensions payment, it is topped up by Home Office grant. The information for the first two completed years under this system is given in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2006-07 (audited)  2007-08 (unaudited) 
			 Officer contributions 499 508 
			 Police authority contribution 1,118 1,145 
			 Pensions expenditure 1,970 2,085 
		
	
	Figures for the years before 2006-07 relate to the previous pay-as-you-go system of financing under which police pensions were paid out of forces' operating accounts. Information about the level of officer contributions, and pensions expenditure net of officer contributions is included in the annual reports published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). This information is gathered independently of the Home Office.

Police: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers will have received payment from the Police Force Pension Fund in 2008 by the end of the year.

Vernon Coaker: The latest estimate given by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, in their publication "Police Estimates Statistics 2008-09" (ISSN 0144-9885), is of 121,567 police pensioners in England and Wales as at 1 April 2008.

Proscribed Organisations: Middle East

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which  (a) armed Palestinian groups and  (b) armed Israeli groups are proscribed in (i) the UK and (ii) the EU;
	(2)  if she will consider the merits of proscribing any armed Israeli groups proven to be associated with recent acts of violence against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Vernon Coaker: We do not comment on organisations not on the proscribed list, or on the prospect of particular organisations being added to the list. Decisions on proscription must be based on a belief that a group is concerned in terrorism as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000 and must be reasonable and proportionate.
	The following Palestinian armed groups are proscribed by the UK: Abu Nidal Organisation; Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades; and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
	The following Palestinian armed groups are listed as terrorist groups or entities by the Council of the EU under Common Position 931: Abu Nidal Organisation; al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades; Hamas (including Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades); Palestine Liberation Front; Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (including PFLP General Command).
	No Israeli armed groups are proscribed by the UK. Kahane Chai (or Kach) is listed by the EU.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Access to Skills, Trade Unions and Advice in Government Contracting

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable has been established for the extension of the Public Services Forum's Access to Skills, Trade Unions and Advice in Government contracting agreement to local authorities; and whether the agreement will extend to local authorities in Wales.

John Healey: The Joint Statement currently applies to central Government contracts only. The impact of the statement on central Government contracts will be reviewed after six months of operation. The extension of the statement to other parts of the public sector will be subject to that evaluation and to further discussions with local government and other stakeholders.

Business Links: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's 2007-08 resource accounts, HC 791, what the nature of the financial irregularities in the Business Links projects funded under the Interreg programme is.

John Healey: My Department is currently investigating to establish the extent to which there are financial irregularities in relation to the Business Links projects funded under the Interreg programme, and, should there be irregularities, the nature and amounts concerned.

Community Development

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will introduce proposals for third party rights of appeal in the forthcoming legislation on community enhancement.

Iain Wright: The Government have no plans to introduce a third party right of appeal in relation to planning decisions.
	The introduction of a third party right of appeal would add complexities to the appeal system, which would be likely to translate into significant delays. A third party right of appeal would mean that planning permissions could not be implemented pending an appeal, resulting in delays and uncertainty for all. This would run counter to the Government's aim of increasing the efficiency of the planning system and to speed up decision making. Furthermore, the introduction of a third party right of appeal could be used perversely to veto many otherwise acceptable developments, which would bring benefits to local communities in terms of homes, jobs and regeneration of neighbourhoods.

Community Land Trusts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to promote community land trusts; and what plans she has for further legislation on the matter.

Iain Wright: The Government are absolutely committed to helping the development of Community Land Trusts that are well managed and financially robust.
	We have supported 14 pilot projects across the country, through the Housing Corporation, which has also offered funding to Community Land Trusts to deliver affordable housing for sale and rent.
	To provide clarity as to the nature of the CLT sector, we have defined community land trusts in the Housing and Regeneration Act. This again demonstrates the Government's commitment to enabling communities to tackle the problem of affordable housing in a way that meets local need.
	We are now consulting on the wider policy issues affecting CLTs—for instance, what the criteria for financial support might be, and how to maximise the chances of a viable and well managed sector being developed. We also wish to consider the role that CLTs might play in both the urban and rural context and how perpetuity of community benefit should be ensured.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council houses there are in each local authority area; and what estimate she has of the cost to Government of transferring those homes to registered social landlords.

Iain Wright: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 June 2008, Official Report, column 982W.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority has received in  (a) capital receipts from right-to-buy sales,  (b) management and maintenance allowance and  (c) minor repairs allowance in each year since 1990; and what estimate she has made of such local government receipts in the next 30 years, using the assumptions adopted in her Department's self-financing of council housing services modelling exercise.

Iain Wright: Tables have been placed in the Library of the House giving the figures for  (b) and  (c) above from 1997-98, the first year for which these data are available.
	It is not possible for the Department to extract in tabular form the particular data requested at  (a), other than at disproportionate cost. However, it is possible to find information on capital receipts from Right To Buy sales for each local, authority in each year since 1998 from the following webpage:-
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-648.xls.
	The Department does not hold the equivalent information for individual years prior to 1998.
	To make projections for figures for management and maintenance allowance, and major repairs allowance for the next 30 years we would need to make assumptions on stock numbers over the period. In the self financing exercise these projections were produced by local authorities themselves and it would be burdensome to ask each local authority for these figures. Similarly those involved in the self financing exercise provided their own projections of receipts and it would be burdensome to ask all authorities for similar information.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect on levels of council tax of the creation of additional parish councils and changes in parish precepts.

John Healey: We have made no such assessment.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her policy is on differential charging depending on payment method in relation to council tax; and what guidance has been issued to local authorities on the matter.

John Healey: The administration of council tax is a matter for local authorities. Regulation 26 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/613) allows local billing authorities to offer a discounted council tax amount for non-cash payments. The Government have no plans to change this.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) her Department and its predecessor and  (b) the Audit Commission has produced for local authorities on (i) council tax collection and (ii) council tax fraud.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government's predecessor Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jointly published with the Government Operational Research Service a Council Tax Collection Good Practice Report in 2004. The report is on CLG's website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/goodprac.pdf.
	The report looks at ways of sharing good practice among practitioners in order to promote continuous improvement in service delivery and collection. Section 9.5 of Annex D to the report deals with fraud.
	The Audit Commission published in 1995 a handbook on the collection of council tax in a publication, "Collecting Local Taxes: A Management Handbook". Copies are available in the Library. The Commission also issues guidance to local authority fraud investigators on how to follow up potential frauds and other anomalies identified through the Commission's data matching exercise, the National Fraud Initiative.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the collection of council tax payments by direct debit from bank accounts.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government's predecessor Department the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister jointly published, with the Government Operational Research Service, a Council Tax Collection Good Practice Report in 2004. The report looks at ways of sharing good practice among practitioners in order to promote continuous improvement in service delivery and collection. Annex D of the report covers best practice on direct debits.
	The report can be accessed via Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/goodprac.pdf

Council Tax: Arrears

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what Government policy is on levying retrospective  (a) council tax and  (b) business rates.

John Healey: Listing officers and valuation officers are respectively required by law to maintain an accurate council tax valuation list and an accurate rating list; so they must make the necessary changes when they become aware that a change to the list is needed. Liability for council tax or business rates arises from the effective date of the alteration of the relevant list. This is governed by regulation 14 of the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/290) and regulation 14 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/659). We currently have no plans to change either of these regulations.

Council Tax: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1949W, on council tax: valuation, what the value of the total payments made to Tenet Technology by the Valuation Office Agency in the last financial year for which figures are available was.

John Healey: No payments are made by the Valuation Office Agency to Tenet Technology.

Councillors: Code of Practice

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2080W, on councillors: code of practice, whether councillors who are members of an area committee that is administered by another council are required to  (a) sign the code of conduct and  (b) maintain a register of interests, in addition to the code and register that they have for the council to which they were directly elected; and whether her Department or the Standards Board for England has issued any advice or guidance on this issue.

John Healey: Councillors are bound by the code of conduct of any authority to which they are elected and must register their interests with that authority.
	In circumstances where a councillor is serving on a joint committee established by two councils, the councillor is covered by the code of conduct of their own authority. The councillor does not have to register their interests with the other council in such a case.
	If the councillor were serving on a committee of another council where the committee was not a joint committee, for instance if the councillor had been co-opted onto that committee, then the councillor would have to sign the code of conduct and register their interests with the local authority that had established the committee.

Data Matching Exercises

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Audit Commission has  (a) prepared and  (b) consulted on a code of practice on data matching exercises, further to Schedule 7 of the Serious Crimes Act 2007.

John Healey: The draft code was issued for consultation on 7 March 2008 for a 12-week period, closing on 30 May 2008.
	The Commission's Code of Data Matching Practice was laid before Parliament on 21 July. A copy is available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/codeofdmp.asp
	This includes a list of the bodies consulted.

Departmental Assets

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's Information Asset Register.

Sadiq Khan: Departmental Information Asset Registers are available on the Inforoute website maintained by OPSI at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/iar/index.htm
	The CLG page is under construction and will be added shortly with revised and updated content.

Departmental Contracts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many invitations to tender her Department has issued in the last 12 months; and for what projects.

Sadiq Khan: Communities has introduced an electronic tendering system that retains an audit trail of Invitations to Tender (ITT). In the last 12 months 111 tenders have gone through this system.
	It should be noted that the systems has not yet rolled out fully throughout the Department and as the records of other ITTs are not held centrally the total of all ITTs issued could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department has paid to external organisations to produce promotional materials over the last 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: The Communications Directorate's expenditure on public information campaigns and centralised print-buying is detailed in the Department's annual report 2007-08, which is available in the Library of the House.
	For details on expenditure with public relations agencies, I refer the hon. Member to information released on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/freedomofinformation/disclosurelog/disclosurelog2008/publicrelationsfirms/
	and
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/freedomofinformation/disclosurelog/disclosurelog2008/februaryaugustmeetings/

Departmental Official Hospitality

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on entertainment by her Department in 2007-08; and how much of that sum is accounted for by expenditure on  (a) food,  (b) alcohol,  (c) staff and  (d) accommodation.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 717W.
	The Department's expenditure on hospitality could be broken down only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports in respect of each property occupied by her Department.

Iain Wright: From 1 October, buildings of more than 1,000 sq m occupied by public authorities and frequently visited by the public have had to display a Display Energy Certificate (DEC).
	A copy of the Department's DEC and associated Advisory Report for Eland House have been placed in House Libraries. Eland House is the only building over 1,000 sq m occupied by CLG and has been showing a DEC since July.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government further to page 162 of her Department's Annual Report 2008, what the reason is for the increase in the unallocated provision in her Department's budget from £0 to £104.4 million by 2010-11.

Sadiq Khan: The increase over the period to 2010-11 is the contingency which the Department has set aside to deal with unforeseen spending pressures. This is in line with the Treasury's consolidated budgeting guidance which encourages Departments not to allocate their departmental expenditure limits fully against their programmes at the start of a financial year.

Electromagnetic Fields

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether electromagnetic interference can be classified as a form of pollution for the purposes of Planning Policy Statement 23.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 23 does not include a definition of pollution and contains no reference to electromagnetic interference. An interpretation of whether electromagnetic interference can be classified as a form of pollution for the purposes of PPS23 would be a matter for the Courts to decide.
	The Government's Environmental Permitting Regulations define pollution by reference to "emission" which is itself defined as the release of "substances, vibrations, heat or noise". The control of radio interference (including electromagnetic interference) through the planning system is covered in planning policy set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 "Telecommunications".

Empty Property: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there are in the Eastbourne borough council area.

Iain Wright: The latest Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix submitted by the local authority to the Department shows the borough had 354 long-term empty homes on 1 April 2008. In 2007-08, the Empty Property Officer reported that 50 empty properties were returned to use as a direct result of action taken by the local authority and its partners, Eastbourne Homes Limited, using powers established by the Government.

Energy Performance Certificates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what evidential basis her Department decided to allow an energy performance certificate to have a maximum duration of three years.

Iain Wright: The consultation on this matter set out a range of scenarios for the duration of an EPC. Following the consultation Ministers decided to set a validity period of three years to allow the gathering of further evidence.

Energy Performance Certificates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what types of residential property have required an energy performance certificate (EPC) in order to be  (a) sold and  (b) rented since 1 October; what guidance she has issued to the housing industry on the matter; and at what stage of the transaction an EPC is required.

Iain Wright: An EPC is required for the sale of all homes from 1 October 2008. The EPC must be made available for any home, free of charge, to a prospective buyer from 1 October 2008, at the earliest opportunity and in any event where any of the following happens:
	When the building is viewed (even if that means providing the EPC before any written information is provided);
	If written information about the building is provided as a result of a request by a prospective purchaser;
	Before contracts are exchanged.
	It is not placing a property on the market that defines the point at which an EPC must be available, but any of the aforementioned circumstances.
	For rented dwellings, an EPC is required for a building or part of a building where the part is designed or altered to be used separately. For residential purposes 'designed or altered to be used separately' describes a unit that is self-contained, meaning that it does not share essential facilities such as a bathroom/shower.
	Guidance and leaflets are available on the CLG website on homes for sale and rent.

Energy Performance Certificates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether display energy certificates are to be compulsory for large buildings in the private sector.

Iain Wright: The Government have no current plans to do so. However a commitment was given to consult on whether such an extension should be made.

Energy Performance Certificates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirement there is for an energy performance certificate to be  (a) produced and  (b) commissioned before a private dwelling may be offered for (i) sale and (ii) rental.

Iain Wright: There has been a requirement to provide a Home Information Pack containing an EPC from August 2007 for the sale of dwellings of four bedrooms and over, September 2007 for dwellings of three bedrooms and all remaining dwellings from December 2007.
	The EPC must be made available for any home, free of charge, to a prospective buyer from 1 October 2008, at the earliest opportunity and in any event where any of the following happens:
	When the building is viewed (even if that means providing the EPC before any written information is provided);
	If written information about the building is provided as a result of a request by a prospective purchaser;
	Before contracts are exchanged.
	It is not placing a property on the market that defines the point at which an EPC must be available, but any of the aforementioned circumstances.
	You need to have commissioned the EPC in order for it to be available to ensure the aforementioned requirements set out are met.
	For rented dwellings, the landlord must commission an EPC and ensure a copy of it, including the recommendation report, is available free of charge to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity. As a minimum, this should be when prospective tenants are first given written information about a dwelling or are arranging to view it, and before any rental contract is entered into. A copy of the EPC must be given free of charge to the person who ultimately becomes the tenant before any rental contract is entered into.

Fire Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role Firebuy Ltd. will play in FiReControl  (a) projects and  (b) procurement.

Sadiq Khan: Firebuy Ltd. currently plays no role in relation to the FiReControl or Firelink projects. Future management of the service contracts for the projects, once they are up and running, is currently under consideration. In our consultation on the 2008-11 National Procurement Strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service, we invited views on whether Firebuy should play a role in this. The consultation closes on 14 November 2008.

Fire Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable she has set for the publication of the latest version of the national business case for the FiReControl project.

Sadiq Khan: The 2008 FiReControl "Business Case Part 2: The National Case" will be published later this year and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Fire Services: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the projected savings are of the new Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006 as compared to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992 for new entrants.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 723W.

Fire Services: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many members of the fire service will have received payments from the Fire Service Pension Scheme in 2008.

Sadiq Khan: Information is available in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's publication, "Fire and Rescue Statistics". The most recent edition, published in December 2007, recorded the estimated number of pensioners from English fire and rescue authorities in the two Firefighters' Pension schemes as 35,423 at 31 March 2008, together with estimates indicating that there would be a further 1,247 retiring from English authorities in 2008-09.

Firebuy Ltd.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what forecast she has made of the  (a) costs and  (b) business-generated income of Firebuy Ltd. in 2008-09.

Sadiq Khan: Firebuy Ltd. is forecasting  (a) running costs of £2,000,000 and  (b) business-generated income of £170,000 in 2008-09. Firebuy also estimates that it will help achieve £2,100,000 savings for fire and rescue authorities during this period.

Government Office for London

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget of the Government Office for London is in 2008-09; and how many people it employs.

Sadiq Khan: The budget for the Government Office for London in 2008-09 is £11,739,350; and the Government Office for London employs 231 people.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements are in place for  (a) examination and  (b) searches for information on (i) home condition report and (ii) energy performance certificate registers; and which (A) individuals and (B) organisations are entitled to access to such information.

Iain Wright: Part 6 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2007 and subsequent statutory instrument on 1 October 2008 set out who can have access to the Register for Home Condition Reports and Energy Performance Certificates. Disclosure can be given to: the holder of a valid report reference number (RRN); an approved accreditation scheme operator; enforcement authorities; the Energy Saving Trust for domestic properties with an F or G rating; and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. In addition, energy assessors can search the domestic register by address. The commercial register may be examined to see whether a building has an EPC, although the EPC itself cannot be accessed or downloaded except by those who have access to EPCs as set out.

Homes and Communities Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the  (a) set-up cost and  (b) annual running cost of the Homes and Communities Agency.

Iain Wright: The costs of the Homes and Communities Agency are set out in the Housing and Regeneration Bill—Impact Assessment. This states that the one-off cost of setting up the Homes and Communities Agency will be £20 million over three years and identifies substantial synergies that will be released by the creation of a single housing and regeneration delivery body.
	The HCA will be a merger of English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, the Academy for Sustainable Communities and key housing and regeneration programmes delivered by the Department. It will inherit a running cost budget (i.e. central and regional staff costs, accommodation, IT, etc.) from them of the order of £99 million per annum. This excludes revenue and capital Programme budgets and cost of capital.

Homes and Communities Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what budget has been established for the Homes and Communities Agency in the first full year of its operation.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave earlier today (PQs 230326 and 230807).

Homes and Communities Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated annual budget is of the Homes and Communities Agency in each of the next three years.

Iain Wright: The HCA will combine the delivery responsibility of English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, the Academy for Sustainable Communities and key housing and regeneration programmes delivered by the Department, including Thames Gateway and Housing Market Renewal. The programme budgets the HCA is inheriting from them will give the HCA a combined budget, under current planning assumptions of:
	for 2009-10 £4.6 billion; the HCA will advise the Department on the distribution of supported capital expenditure for the Arms Length Management Organisation programme of some £800 million;
	for 2010-11 £3.8 billion; the HCA will also advise the Department on the distribution of supported capital expenditure for the Arms Length Management Organisation programme of some £800 million;
	the HCA will also advise on the distribution of some £1.8 billion of PFI credits over the comprehensive spending review period (2008-09 to 2010-11).
	The distribution of the HCA budget in 2009-10 and 2010-11 reflects the impact of measures outlined in the recent housing package announcement. Expenditure has been brought forward from later years.
	Budgets beyond 2010-11 are a matter for the next spending review.

Housing Associations: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers housing associations have to borrow against their assets; and what restrictions apply.

Iain Wright: The constitutional documents of housing associations (for example, the Memorandum and Articles of Association for a company limited by guarantee) give them the power to borrow money in such manner as they think fit and to give such security as the company shall think fit. However, housing associations must operate in furtherance of their objects (which must be consistent with the permissible purposes specified in the Housing Act 1996). Section 9 of the Housing Act 1996 requires that the association must obtain the consent of the Housing Corporation to any disposal of its land by way of charge. In future, the consent of the Tenant Services Authority, the successor to the Housing Corporation as regulator of housing associations, will be required for the disposal of social housing, under section 172 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.

Housing Associations: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment the Housing Corporation has made of the aggregate financial value of the reserves of housing associations that it regulates.

Iain Wright: The Housing Corporation analyses the financial statements of (i) individual housing associations through its review of associations' viability and (ii) at an aggregate level in its annual publication, the Global Accounts of Housing Associations. This is available on the Corporation's website, at:
	http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/upload/pdf/Global_Accounts_2007.pdf.
	At 31 March 2007, the reported aggregate value of housing associations' reserves stood at £13.6 billion. These figures are currently being updated and will be published in March 2009.
	Of those reserves, a majority, £8.1 billion, relate to revaluation reserves, as a minority of housing properties are recorded at value rather than cost in the balance sheet. Of the remainder, £5.3 billion are reserves generated from historic surpluses. These surpluses are not represented by cash held by associations and have been invested in housing properties on the balance sheet.

Housing: Construction

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the net number of new build dwellings which will be  (a) completed and  (b) started in (i) the calendar year 2008 and (ii) the financial year 2008-09.

Iain Wright: The Government do not publish forecasts of housing supply. The latest house building statistics published in August 2008 showed that new build completions for England in the 12 months to June amounted to 161,100. New build starts over the same period totalled 147,500.

Housing: Debts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records  (a) her Department and  (b) the Housing Corporation holds relating to the housing debt of (i) local authorities and (ii) housing associations.

Iain Wright: Local authorities manage their debt portfolios in aggregate and do not keep track of loans taken out specifically for housing purposes.
	Communities and Local Government does not hold records of the housing debt of housing associations. Information from the annual accounts of associations provides information on the amount of outstanding short-term and long-term debt as at the association's year end, typically 31 March, and is then submitted to the Housing Corporation.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Housing Corporation's publication "Annual Review of Housing Association Private Finance", available at:
	http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13530/changeNav/440
	which provides additional detail on the arranged loan facilities and outstanding debt provided by each larger association (defined as those with 1,000 units or more or large group parent bodies).
	In response to the present economic situation, the Housing Corporation collects quarterly information from a selection of associations that provides an update on current debt levels, the projected requirements for debt over the coming 12 months and access to debt funding.
	The corporation also collects long-term financial forecasts covering a 30-year timeframe which provides information on longer-term debt requirements for each association based on its projected business activities.

Housing: Low Incomes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average length of time taken was for a household to be provided with suitable housing after joining the socially provided housing waiting list in  (a) Southampton and  (b) Test Valley borough in each of the last two years; and how many households were on the socially provided housing waiting list in (i) Southampton and (ii) Test Valley borough in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information for average length of time on a housing waiting list is not collected centrally.
	Information about social housing waiting lists is collected in respect of households rather than families. Where local authorities and registered social landlords operate a common register, households registered with the RSL will be included in the data. However, registered social landlords are independent bodies and can keep their own waiting lists.
	A table showing the number of households on local authorities' waiting lists for all local authorities in England from 1998 to 2007 is placed in the Library of the House. It is also published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/144458.xls
	The number of households on local authorities' waiting lists for (i) Southampton and (ii) Test Valley from 1998 to 2007 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of households on local aut horities' housing waiting: 1998 to  2007 
			   Number of households on the waiting list (excludes households looking for transfers) 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Southampton UA 3,900 3,700 4,520 5,150 5,810 6,700 8,130 9,230 11,130 10,120 
			 Test Valley 1,770 1,720 1,610 1,440 1,650 2,190 2,090 2,700 2,890 3,930 
			  Note:  As reported by Local Authorities, excludes households looking for transfers. Rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return (HSSA) 
		
	
	Local authorities in England report the number of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns.
	The size of the waiting list is not an indicator of absolute need; it is only useful as a broad indicator of housing demand in an area. Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get onto the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house.

Housing: Low Incomes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the amount of social housing being sub-let within each local authority area.

Iain Wright: My Department does not require local authorities to submit data on sub-letting, so a reliable estimate cannot be given.

Housing: Low Incomes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of changes in  (a) the availability of mortgages for first-time buyers and  (b) trends in house prices on the rate of take-up of the Government's (i) shared equity and (ii) shared ownership products.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made by  (a) her Department and  (b) the Housing Corporation of the effect of the state of the housing market on low cost home ownership sales by social landlords.

Iain Wright: The Department continually keeps under review the effect of house prices and the availability of mortgages on shared equity and shared ownership products.
	Affordability remains an issue in many parts of the country. Our understanding is that mortgages are still available for first-time buyers under the Government's shared equity products, and there has been no slowdown in purchases related to these products. The following table shows take-up rates of shared equity products over the past 12 months.
	
		
			  Take-up rates of shared equity products 
			   Number 
			  2007  
			 October 204 
			 November 195 
			 December 296 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 225 
			 February 331 
			 March 545 
			 April 31 
			 May 170 
			 June 439 
			 July 460 
			 August 425 
			 September 693 
		
	
	The picture on shared ownership is more mixed and reflects wider market conditions for new build homes. Registered social landlords (RSL) are reporting that this is leading to longer sales times for shared ownership products. The Council of Mortgage Lenders has issued a disclosure of incentive form which has been welcomed by the RSL sector as it should improve simplicity and transparency to prices, and increase lender's confidence.
	The Government continue to keep the situation under close review.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2086W, on housing: low incomes, and with reference to the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 665W, on housing: low incomes, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the change in the number of housing associations offering Social Homebuy to their tenants between the dates of the answers.

Iain Wright: Originally 77 housing associations were awarded funding allocations by the Housing Corporation to offer the voluntary social homebuy scheme to their tenants during the two-year pilot period from April 2006. However, due to mergers and partnership arrangements, eight of these housing associations are not now recorded separately by the Housing Corporation, though they continue to offer the scheme.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of social housing dwellings are currently recorded on the National Register of Social Housing; and what the targets are in relation to data held.

Iain Wright: As at 24 October 2008 the National Register of Social Housing contained records of 1,949,759 units of social housing representing 48 per cent. of stock. This is 65 per cent. of local authority owned stock and 34 per cent. of housing association stock. The target is that all local authority stock and all stock owned by the larger housing associations should be captured by April 2009.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the National Register of Social Housing will include property attributes from non-social affordable housing.

Iain Wright: The National Register of Social Housing will include non social rented dwellings provided by local authorities, housing associations or other agencies delivering affordable housing through Housing Corporation programmes. This includes Key Worker Housing and properties in shared ownership. The attributes collected will be the same as for social rented properties.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many completed transactions there were under each HomeBuy scheme in each month since April 2006, broken down by local authority area.

Iain Wright: Tables have been deposited in the Library of the House which show completions by month and location local authority for each HomeBuy scheme in 2006-07 and 2007-08 through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme.
	The New Build HomeBuy figures include those homes completed through the previous Shared Ownership scheme. Social HomeBuy figures do not include those homes provided by local authorities operating this scheme.

Housing: Low Incomes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what change there has been in the funds each regional development agency received for contributions to the Homeowner Support Package in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

John Healey: In September 2008 the Government announced that £300 million would be redirected from the Department's contribution to the RDA single programme budget to fund the HomeBuy Direct scheme. The change in indicative capital allocations for each Regional Development Agency, currently profiled as £25 million in 2009-10 and £275 million in 2010-11 is shown in the following table. RDA budgets in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are not funding HomeBuy Direct.
	
		
			  RDA Indicative Capital Allocations as a result of funding HomeBuy Direct 
			  £ 000 
			   2009-10  2010-11 
			  RDA  Indicative Allocation  Change  Revised Allocation  Indicative Allocation  Change  Revised Allocation 
			 AWM 136,021 3,229 132,792 132,709 35,520 97,189 
			 EEDA 57,024 1,354 55,670 55,636 14,891 40,745 
			 EMDA 74,869 1,777 73,092 73,046 19,551 53,495 
			 LDA 185,625 4,407 181,218 181,105 48,474 132,631 
			 NWDA 190,711 4,526 186,185 186,067 49,801 136,266 
			 ONE 123,540 2,933 120,607 120,531 32,261 88,270 
			 SEEDA 67,589 1,605 65,984 65,943 17,650 48,293 
			 SWRDA 70,123 1,665 68,458 68,416 18,312 50,104 
			 YF 147,586 3,504 144,082 143,992 38,540 105,452 
			 Total 1,053,088 25,000 1,028,088 1,027,445 275,000 752,445

Housing: Overcrowding

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the pilot projects to tackle housing over-crowding.

Iain Wright: In 2007-08 the Government funded five London local authorities to develop pilot schemes to tackle overcrowding. The early lessons learnt from the London pilots were published on the Communities and Local Government website in "Tackling Overcrowding in England: Lessons from the London pilot schemes and sub-regional coordination in June 2008".
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/tacklingovercrowdingengland.
	In December 2007 the Government announced an additional £15 million funding over the current CSR period to tackle overcrowding in 38 local authority pathfinder areas across England, starting this year. The evaluation of the London pilots is informing the development of the overcrowding pathfinders' strategies and action plans.

Housing: Planning Permission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the planning process is for the sale of educational use land for residential use; and how much educational use land in  (a) England and  (b) Leicester East constituency has been sold for development for residential use in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) 10 years.

Iain Wright: The Department does not collect the data requested centrally. The Land Use Change Statistics (LUCS) provides information on actual changes from one land use to another. However, statistics on where land changes from community buildings includes schools and colleges but also hospitals, police stations and prisons, while data on land changing from outdoor recreation include school playing fields as well as football pitches, golf courses and allotments.
	For planning purposes land should be identified and allocated in local development frameworks, which is the overall planning strategy for the area. In some cases speculative applications, outside of the local development framework, may come forward—in which case they should be determined having regard to the overall direction in the framework.

Housing: Prices

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of her Department's use of  (a) a mix-adjusted house price measure and  (b) other types of measure on estimates of house price inflation or deflation in a falling market.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government (CLG) has looked at differences between the CLG mix-adjusted house price index and other measures of house prices inflation or deflation in a falling market as published by Halifax and Nationwide and the Land Registry.
	The main difference is that the CLG and Land Registry indices are based on mortgage completions, whereas the Nationwide and Halifax indices use mortgage approvals data. This means the CLG index is based on actual selling prices and as a result lags about two months behind the Nationwide and Halifax indices. This lag may be increasing with the downturn in the housing market as transactions take longer to complete.
	Other differences between the indices exist but have less impact on the differences between the measures.

Housing: Private Finance Initiative

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have made representations to her Department on the effect of the economic situation on funding for private finance initiative housing schemes.

Iain Wright: My Department is in regular contact with all schemes on the housing PFI programme. The manner and topics of individual discussions cannot be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

Housing: Research

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisation is providing her Department with research into levels of housing need; and what the terms of reference of such research are.

Iain Wright: The Department has recently let a research contract on "Estimating Housing Need" to Heriot-Watt University. The research team is being led by Professor Glen Bramley.
	Communities and Local Government officials produced a detailed specification of what will be required from the research. Broadly the aims of the research are to:
	enable the Department to produce better estimates of housing need taking into account the normative nature and multi-dimensionality of need, and the need for housing related support; and
	to do this through the production of a robust model which enables estimates of housing need to be provided and which can be easily adapted to examine different scenarios and assess the impact of varying assumptions.

Housing: Sales

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department and its predecessors have taken to reduce the incidence of  (a) gazumping and  (b) gazundering.

Iain Wright: We have introduced home information packs which, by providing consumers with important information early in the house buying and selling process can help to reduce the opportunities for gazumping and gazundering to occur.

Housing: Solar Energy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many residential properties in the UK have solar panels; and what data her Department gathers on residential solar panel installation in other EU member states for benchmarking purposes.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	As part of a consortium of organisations including the microgeneration industry and energy NGOs, we commissioned research on the growth potential for microgeneration in England, Wales and Scotland, which included current levels of uptake. It found that there were an estimated 90,000 solar thermal installations at the end of 2007. The research can be accessed at
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/research/page382 08.html
	A further study which is due to be published shortly suggests approximately 105,000 installations to August 2008. These studies did not estimate how many were domestic or non-domestic installations.
	We do not collect information on residential solar panel installations for benchmarking purposes with other EU countries. However the Annual PVPS (Photovoltaic Power Systems) Report sets out support for PV and installed capacity in EU countries. The report can be accessed at the website:
	http://www.iea-pvps.org/

Housing: South Yorkshire

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid by local authorities in South Yorkshire to Bramall Construction Ltd. for housing stock renewal in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold this information.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the mandatory roll-out of the Code for Sustainable Homes across each level in new build  (a) social housing and  (b) private sector housing.

Iain Wright: The Code for Sustainable Homes came into effect in April 2007 as the standard for sustainable new build homes in England. It is currently voluntary for the private sector to build homes to the levels set in the code unless they are building on English Partnerships' land (where they will need to build to at least code level 3), or are subject to a planning requirement.
	However, the Government are committed to ensuring that all new homes are built to the highest levels of sustainability and as such in 2010 are increasing the energy efficiency standards set out in Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) of the Building Regulations and in 2009 introducing water efficiency into Part G (Hygiene). In addition all homes that are designed and built with funding from the National Affordable Housing programme will need to be built to code level 3.
	Both English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation have committed to raising sustainability standards over time. English Partnerships stated that homes built on their land would need to be built to at least code level 4 from 2010 and code level 6/zero carbon from 2013. For the Housing Corporation their commitment was tied to the timing of the National Affordable Housing programme funding stream. Therefore they would require homes built to code level 4 from 2011 and code level 6/zero carbon from 2014 (subject to the technology needed being cost effective).
	The new Homes and Communities Agency is currently considering how to harmonise the standards and commitments made by English Partnerships and Housing Corporation and will, subject to a cost-benefit analysis, confirm the timetable for building to higher levels of the code in due course.
	In practice homes are being built today to the higher levels of the code, both on English Partnerships' sites, with funding from the National Affordable Housing programme and by private developers. Code homes have been built or are going through the final assessment process at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum Code for Sustainable Homes level is that housing in eco-towns must meet.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) on 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 306W.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum eco-standards for new homes built in the Thames Gateway area are; and what plans she has to change such standards over time.

Iain Wright: New homes built in the Thames Gateway must meet the same standards as in the rest of the UK. The long-term goal is to reduce UK carbon emissions by 80 per cent. by 2050. The intention is for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016, to be achieved through a progressive tightening of the energy efficiency standards in building regulations—with a 25 per cent. improvement on current standards in 2010 and a 44 per cent. in 2013—up to the zero carbon standard in 2016. Our planning policies on climate change enable councils to drive things further and faster than the national timetable through their planning strategies, where local circumstances warrant and allow this. In addition, homes built with funding from English Partnerships, Housing Corporation or the two Thames Gateway Development Corporations are required to be built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3. We also announced in the November 2007 Thames Gateway Delivery Plan that we envisage the Thames Gateway as an eco-region. Work continues to develop the eco-region concept and next steps will be announced in a prospectus, to be published later this year.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1322W, on housing: sustainable development, if she will break down the number of homes assessed against the Code for Sustainable Homes at each code level by  (a) local authority and  (b) housing association; and how many of the assessed homes were privately developed properties.

Iain Wright: Due to the time lag from when homes are registered, designed, built and assessed against the Code for Sustainable Homes there are only limited useful data available at present. As data become available they have to be further investigated and refined before we are in a position to release them on a regular basis. We therefore do not currently have data in the format that the hon. Lady has requested.

Housing: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been produced on vetting the eligibility of  (a) second home,  (b) empty home and  (c) single person council tax discounts.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government's predecessor Department the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister jointly published with the Government Operational Research Service a "Council Tax Collection Good Practice Report" in 2004. The report can be accessed via Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/goodprac.pdf
	The report looks at ways of sharing good practice among practitioners, in order to promote continuous improvement in service delivery and collection. Section 9.5 of annex D to the report covers how best local authorities can tackle fraudulent claims for council tax discounts, including single person discounts and vacant properties.

Housing: Young People

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will provide a greater level of accommodation for those in the 18 to 21 age group.

Iain Wright: The Government's policies on increasing housing supply are intended to address the problems of housing affordability for all age groups. The Housing Green Paper published in July 2007 "Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable" (CM 7191) set out to address affordability issues and the need for more homes over the longer term.
	Through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme we are investing £8 billion in the provision of affordable housing over the next three years, 2008-11. Part of this investment will deliver affordable housing for vulnerable groups including young people at risk and young people leaving care.

Lighting: Pollution

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent planning guidance has been provided on light pollution.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) on 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1363W.

Listed Buildings: Demolition

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Grade  (a) I and  (b) II listed buildings have been demolished in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government does not collect information on the number of Grade I and II listed buildings that have been demolished.

Local Authorities

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition of  (a) a rural and  (b) an urban local authority is.

John Healey: The definition of rural and urban authority used in programmes and policies will vary according to the context or their objectives.

Local Authorities: Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's target is for the number of new local authority social dwellings to be constructed in the next 12 months.

Iain Wright: We have not set a target for the number of new social dwellings to be built by local authorities in the next 12 months.

Local Authorities: Housing

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities are buying unsold housing stock.

Iain Wright: The Department does not at present hold records of purchases by local authorities of unsold housing stock.

Local Authorities: Insurance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities have powers to buy their insurance from mutual local authority companies set up to provide insurance to local authorities without having to put such contracts of insurance out to tender through the public procurement process.

John Healey: There is currently a case to be heard before the Court of Appeal brought by Risk Management Partners Ltd. against London borough of Brent concerning these matters. It would not be appropriate for the Department to comment until the court has handed down its judgment.

Local Authorities: Newspaper Press

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 24 July 2007,  Official Report, column 966W, on local authorities: newspaper press, what steps have been taken since that answer was given to allow local authorities more discretion on how to best publicise matters in their area.

John Healey: In our White Paper "Communities in control: real people, real power" we recognised the importance of effective communication by local authorities and undertook to consult on potential changes to the "Code of Recommended Practice on Local Government Publicity", which we intend to do before the end of the year.

Local Authorities: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether joint waste authorities will be subject to oversight by  (a) the Standards Board of England and  (b) the Local Government Ombudsman.

John Healey: Joint waste authorities will be subject to oversight by the Standards Board for England, in the context of its role as the strategic regulator of the conduct regime for local authority members. They are within the jurisdiction of the local government ombudsman.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the NUTS 2 territorial groupings are being used to distribute the new round of funding from Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme; and why district councils are being treated differently from previous rounds.

John Healey: Proposals for a revised LABGI scheme were set out in the consultation paper "Reforming the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme", published on 28 August 2008 with responses invited by 20 November. Views are being sought on the grouping of authorities for the allocation of reward, the treatment of district councils and other aspects of the scheme. Responses to the consultation will be carefully considered before the scheme is finalised. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the House of Commons Library. It can also be viewed on my Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/reforminglabgiconsultation

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria are used by the Public Works Loan Board to decide whether to lend to a local authority.

John Healey: To decide whether to lend to a local authority, the Public Works Loan Board asks the following two questions to the applicant nominated by the local authority's chief financial officer: Is your local authority complying with the appropriate requirements of the PWLB's current circulars? and Is this application within the relevant legislation of your council's borrowing powers? The answer to both questions must be 'yes'.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the maximum amount of funding lent to local authorities via the Public Works Loan Board each year is fixed, or varies according to the demand from local authorities.

John Healey: There is no fixed limit each year for funding to local authorities via the Public Works Loan Board.

Local Government Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether it is her Department's policy that the new burdens principle applies to the funding of town and parish councils.

John Healey: The Government's new burdens principles cover all types of local authority, including town and parish councils.

Local Government Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances additional income from fines, assuming constant staff costs, results in a cash-releasing value for money gain for the purposes of local authority efficiency reports.

John Healey: We have given councils clear guidance that additional income from fines, in itself, is never a cash-releasing value for money gain, available online at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/965855.pdf
	However, where the number of fines issued increases, an improvement in the effectiveness of staff may have occurred. Where this has happened, and councils are clear that standards of fairness and justice have been maintained, they may record a cash-releasing gain based on the cost of the staff employed (not the value of the additional fines imposed): the efficiency being recorded is in the use of staff time, not the income from fines.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether councils which have a smaller number of households claiming single person's council tax discount  (a) receive greater net revenue from council tax receipts and  (b) have their formula grant adjusted downwards relative to councils which have a larger number of households claiming single person's discount.

John Healey: Receipts from council tax will, among other things, be affected by the number of households claiming single person's discount. The basis of distributing formula grant is set out in the local government finance report that is published on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/0809/lgfr0809s/index.htm
	The number of discounts and exemptions, including the single person's discount, in an authority will be reflected in its council taxbase for formula grant setting purposes.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which county councils will receive the lowest possible increase in grant from her Department in 2008-09.

John Healey: As Parliament approved on 4 February, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, West Sussex, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex county councils will all receive 2 per cent. increase in formula grant in 2008-09. This is the minimum percentage increase for authorities with responsibility for education and social services in 2008-09.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the effect of recent falls in stock market values on levels of local authority investment income.

John Healey: No central assessment has been carried out. Section 12 of the Local Government Act 2003 gives a local authority power to invest for any purpose relevant to its functions, or for the purposes of the prudent management of its financial affairs.

Local Government: Bank Services

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has provided to local authorities on investing funds in Irish-owned banks operating in the Republic of Ireland.

John Healey: We have provided no such guidance.

Local Government: Bank Services

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority has invested in Icelandic financial institutions.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 17 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1577W.

Local Government: Equal Pay

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the implications of the July 2008 Court of Appeal ruling on equal pay in local government.

John Healey: Local authorities, in their capacity as employers, are considering the potential implications of the recent Court of Appeal judgment in "Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council  v. Bainbridge and Ors".
	Communities and Local Government continues to monitor developments in this case with the local government employers.

Local Government: Fixed Penalties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether an impact assessment has been produced to accompany her Department's proposals on local government bylaws and greater use of fixed penalty notices.

John Healey: As stated in the regulatory impact assessment for the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, available at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/healthact
	"All provisions in the Act went through the process of screening or an initial RIA so a clear understanding of the possible impacts of these measures could be obtained. The following provisions were deemed as having negligible impact and therefore required no further analysis."
	The list of provisions includes byelaws. Hence, no impact assessment is required.

Local Government: Pay

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the levels of local authority chief executive pay.

John Healey: This Department does not produce guidance on levels of local authority chief executive pay.
	The Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Executives produces guidance on the national salary framework and conditions of service for local authority chief executives. Details of how to obtain the handbook are given on the Local Government Employers website at:
	http://www.lge.gov.uk/lge/core/page.do?pageId=118995

Local Government: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will consider the merits of introducing cost-capping and cost-sharing agreements in relation to the recently introduced Local Government Pension Scheme analogous to those in place in schemes in the NHS and the Civil Service.

John Healey: The new benefit structure for the Local Government Pension Scheme was introduced by the Local Government Pension Scheme (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations 2007 which were laid before Parliament on 4 April 2007. Regulation 40 of those Regulations already places a responsibility on the Secretary of State to produce guidance on managing future costs before 31 March 2009, with the intention of ensuring a sustainable and viable pension scheme which is fair to taxpayers.
	An informal consultation on possible ways forward, developed with the Scheme's main interested parties, closed on the 30 May 2008. Following constructive discussions with stakeholders, a formal consultation will begin shortly on cost sharing arrangements specific to the needs of the LGPS to meet the regulatory timetable.

Local Government: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local government employees will have received payments from the local government pension scheme in 2008.

John Healey: Details of the number of pensioners in receipt of benefit from the local government pension scheme in 2007-08 can be found on the Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/pensions.htm

Local Government: Reorganisation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1994-95W, on local government: reorganisation, if she will provide a summary of the independent financial report's recommendations, with particular reference to those related to  (a) cost overruns and  (b) increasing net costs.

John Healey: My answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1994-95W, to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) explained that I have made clear to the House the independent financial report's conclusions on any restructuring for which we were seeking the House's approval. We have no plans to make public any further information from these independent reports which are advice to Ministers which is not generally released.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the coming into full operation of each new unitary council.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to answer I gave him on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1414W.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will withdraw proposals for new unitary councils in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk.

John Healey: On 6 February we requested the Boundary Committee to advise by 31 December 2008 on certain matters relating to the unitary proposals made respectively by Exeter city council, Ipswich borough council, and Norwich city council. Any question about proposals for unitary local government in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk is therefore at present a matter for the Boundary Committee.

Local Government: Standards

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which indicators in the national indicator set have associated  (a) targets and  (b) aspirations for local authorities to meet.

John Healey: Targets against national indicators are set out in 150 individual local area agreements (LAAs). The indicators that have targets associated with them are therefore different to reflect the priorities in each area. Details on which national indicators have targets can be found at:
	www.localpriorities.communities.gov.uk

Mayors: Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what evidential basis the supplementary vote was chosen as the electoral system for directly-elected mayors; and whether evidence was gathered on its use overseas.

John Healey: The decision to introduce the supplementary vote system for the election of the London Mayor in the Greater London Act 1999, had regard to consultation responses and research commissioned from Professor Partrick Dunleavey and Dr. Helen Margetts by the Government Office for London. A copy of their report—"Report to the Government Office for London: Electing the London Mayor and the London Assembly" is in the House of Commons Library.
	This was extended to directly elected mayors through the Local Government Act 2000.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records her Department holds of the licensing fees charged by local authorities for registration of houses of multiple occupation; and what estimate she has made of the variance in the level of fees between local authorities.

Iain Wright: Under section 63 of the Housing Act 2004 local authorities have the discretion to set their own HMO licence fees but these fees must reflect the actual costs to the local authority of HMO licensing. Local authorities are therefore able to recover the full cost of licensing from the licence fee, but are not allowed to use fees to raise funds for other projects.
	There is no statutory requirement under the Housing Act 2004 for local authorities to provide data on the licensing fees charged. The Department has however requested local authorities to provide data on the licensing fees charged via the National Register of Licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (ROLHMO) database. Officials are assessing the accuracy of the data provided. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has also been commissioned to review the implementation of HMO licensing which will include a consideration of fees charged.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances  (a) discretionary and  (b) mandatory licensing of houses of multiple occupation may be imposed on private properties.

Iain Wright: All houses in multiple occupation (HMO) that are of three or more storeys, housing five or more persons, forming more than one household are now subject to mandatory HMO licensing. Local authorities also have the discretion to introduce additional HMO licensing schemes to cover smaller HMOs where they have identified problems such as poor management standards and property condition. The use of this discretionary power is subject to local consultation and departmental approval.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on non-domestic rates: ports, if she will place in the Library a copy of the new business rate valuation lists for each of the ports, following the recent changes made by the Valuation Office Agency.

John Healey: The 2005 non-domestic rating list is published on the web site of the Valuation Office Agency and is available to inspect at
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/index.htm.
	A single rating list has been compiled for each billing authority area but the Valuation Office Agency do not hold separate lists of properties attributable to smaller locations.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on non-domestic rates: ports, what the business names and addresses are of each of the ports or shipping firms that the Valuation Office Agency has retrospectively revalued.

John Healey: The provisions of Sections 17 to 19 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 require the Agency not to disclose ratepayers' names even where they are known.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 1 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1427-28W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, what the average size of a sub-location is; and how many sub-locations there are in England.

John Healey: It is not possible to identify the average size of a "sub-location", which in effect is a VOA description for a particular class of property having similar characteristics. A sub-location will define a particular group of properties, ranging in number from a single property to many over a wide—but not necessarily geographically continuous—area.
	In round terms there are some 90,000 differently coded sub-locations in use within England.

Ordnance Survey

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial targets were set for Ordnance Survey for the latest period for which figures are available; and what outcomes were achieved against those targets.

Iain Wright: As set out in Ordnance Survey's annual report and accounts published in July 2008, Ordnance Survey was set a financial target for operating profit before interest and dividends of £14.6 million for 2007-08. Actual performance against this target was £22.5 million.

Ordnance Survey: Contracts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many invitations to tender Ordnance Survey has issued in the last 12 months; and for what project in each case.

Iain Wright: Ordnance Survey issued 18 invitations to tender in the 12 months to 30 September 2008. The projects involved were in the following categories:
	
		
			  Category  Project 
			 Data Collection Intelligence of Landscape Change 
			  Upgraded 'OSNet' GPS Base Station System 
			   
			 Information Technology Preferred Supplier Status—IT goods and associated services 
			  Pen Tablet Computers 
			  Web Services 
			  Satellite Navigation System 
			   
			 Sales and Marketing Marketing Services 
			   
			 Production Print Management Solution 
			  Supply of Map Printing Paper 
			  Computer-to-Plate System 
			  Printing Plates 
			  Map Cover Board 
			  'Six Sigma' Lean Engineering 
			   
			 Storage and Distribution Postal Packaging Materials 
			  Fulfilment Services 
			   
			 Staff development and training Training Services 
			  Reward and Recognition Services 
			  Leadership Training Services

Place Surveys

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what guidance her Department has provided on the procurement process by which local authorities should employ opinion research companies to undertake the new place surveys;
	(2)  whether local authorities will be required to carry out place surveys;
	(3)  what questions are  (a) optional and  (b) mandatory in a Place Survey;
	(4)  what information is required to be covered in a Place Survey questionnaire.

John Healey: The biennial Place Survey is being carried out in all local authority areas from 2008. The information requested is set out in the Place Survey Technical Manual, which is available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/placesurveymanual0809
	A copy of the Technical Manual has been placed in the Library of the House.

Place Surveys

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated cost is of local authorities producing and compiling place surveys over the next three years.

John Healey: The Place Survey consultation, which is available at
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/newplacesurvey
	shows the estimated cost of local authorities conducting the biennial Place Survey to be £15 million over three rounds.

Plain English

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many documents produced by her Department were submitted to the Plain English Campaign for approval for Crystal Mark status in each year since 2005; and how many documents achieved such status in each year.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many documents produced by her Department and its predecessors were submitted to the Plain English Campaign for approval for Crystal Mark status in each year since 2005; and how many documents achieved such status in each year.

Sadiq Khan: The Department was created in May 2006. Since then the Department's Communications Directorate has produced three documents for Crystal Mark status:
	Regulatory reform (Fire Safety Order 2005) - A short guide to making your premises safe from fire (Published June 2006).
	Local choice, local control: Statutory guidance on tenant management for local authorities and local authority tenants (Published October 2008).
	Residents' choice: Guidance on tenant management and other options supported through the Tenant Empowerment Programme (Published October 2008).
	All these documents are available on our website.

Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by Ove Arup and Partners on the consultation responses to the Planning White Paper.

Iain Wright: The Planning White Paper, "Planning for a Sustainable Future", was published on 21 May 2007. Communities and Local Government commissioned Ove Arup and Partners to summarise and analyse the formal responses to the Planning White Paper. Their report, "Analysis of Responses: Background Report A", is available on the CLG website, but was not placed in the Library of the House. The Department also received a range of other comments, from a variety of sources, on the Planning White Paper proposals more generally. The report on these views, "Analysis of Responses: Background Report B", is also available on the CLG website.
	The Government response to the White Paper, which summarises the results of the consultation, including those analysed in the Arup report, sets out the Government's overall response on key issues emerging from the White Paper consultation and next steps in relation to the Planning Bill, is available on the CLG website and copies were placed in the Library of the House.
	However, we will ensure that copies of the Arup Report are also placed in the Library of both Houses.

Planning Gain Supplement (Preparations) Act 2007

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward legislation to repeal the Planning Gain Supplement (Preparations) Act 2007.

Iain Wright: The Prime Minister stated in July 2007 that the main Planning-gain Supplement Bill was provisional because if a better alternative was found the Government would be willing to defer it from the current legislative session. Following discussions with the development industry, the Government deferred the introduction of a Planning-gain Supplement Bill from this parliamentary session to take forward CIL in preference.
	The Planning-gain Supplement (Preparations) Act 2007 is three sections long and cannot be used to introduce PGS. It does not set out the detailed policy, nature or operation of PGS. Its sole purpose is to allow certain authorities to spend money in order to prepare for the introduction of PGS, for example to develop IT systems. In the event, no expenditure has been incurred in relation to PGS which would not have been permitted in the absence of the Preparations Act.
	There is no need to repeal the Preparations Act as it is a narrow preparations measure designed to ensure the regularity and probity of Government expenditure in accordance with the usual Government accounting rules.

Planning Inspectorate

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Planning Inspectorate's inspectors' handbook.

Iain Wright: A copy of the Inspectors' Handbook has been placed in the Library of the House.

Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on certificates of lawfulness for developments with permitted development rights.

Iain Wright: Guidance on lawful development certificates is contained in DoE Circular 10/97 "Enforcing Planning Control: Legislative Provisions and Procedural Requirements". Developers would apply for a certificate under section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to establish that a proposed development benefits from permitted development rights.

Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she gives to planning authorities on the application of planning policy guidance or planning policy statements to planning applications in circumstances where a submitted application is subject to appeal and a relevant item of guidance or statement has undergone substantive revision between the date of the initial application and the appeal hearing.

Iain Wright: Guidance set out in 'The Planning System: General Principles' states:
	"Emerging policies, in the form of draft policy statements and guidance, can be regarded as material considerations, depending on the context. Their existence may indicate that a relevant policy is under review; and the circumstances which have led to that review may need to be taken into account."
	The aforementioned guidance is relevant to the decision taker at the time, whether that be local planning authorities or the Secretary of State, and can be found on Communities and Local Government website via the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningsystem

Planning Permission

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what procedures are in place to ensure that local planning authorities take appropriate action to enforce planning control decisions;
	(2)  what steps the Department has taken in relation to those local authorities which fail to take enforcement action against developers who flout planning controls;
	(3)  what steps she plans to take to enforce planning regulations applicable to the Quinn Glass plant in Elton and Ince;
	(4)  what steps she is taking to require Chester City Council to enforce planning regulations relating to the Quinn Glass plant in Elton and Ince;
	(5)  what steps her Department takes to ensure that  (a) large-scale developments obtain appropriate planning consent prior to construction and  (b) that enforcement action is taken to prevent any potential unfair competitive advantage being gained as a result of progressing development without proper permission;
	(6)  what representations she has received on the legality of the continued operation of the Quinn Glass plant at Elton and Ince and the status of planning permission in relation to the plant;
	(7)  what steps she intends to take to enforce the decision of her predecessor that Quinn Glass should not gain any advantage from the fact that their plant had already been built and commenced operation.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities have a wide range of discretionary enforcement powers to enable them to deal with unauthorised development that is harming amenity in the neighbourhood. If they consider that unauthorised development is unacceptable on planning grounds, they have the power to take enforcement action. It is for the local planning authority to decide in each case which is the most appropriate course of action, taking account of local circumstances. Guidance is available to local planning authorities in PPG 18 "Enforcing Planning Control" and DoE Circular 10/97 "Enforcing Planning Control: Legislative Provisions and Procedural Requirements" with its accompanying Good Practice Guide.
	A second retrospective planning application for the development at the Quinn Glass plant at Elton was submitted to the Chester city and Ellesmere Port and Neston borough councils on 30 January 2008, and has yet to be determined.
	Representations have been received from Mr. Mark Humphreys that concern the legality of operations at the plant. Representations and requests to call-in the previous planning application have also made reference to the operation of the plant without the benefit of planning permission.
	A request that the Secretary of State should call-in the application was also received, on 12 May 2008, from the agents acting on behalf of Ardagh Glass Ltd. (formerly Rockware Glass Ltd.), a company based in South Yorkshire. The Secretary of State issued an Article 14 direction on 16 June 2008. This will ensure that she has a formal opportunity to consider the possibility of determining the matter herself by calling in the matter should the two local planning authorities be minded to grant planning permission.
	I can make no comments on the merits of this case as it may yet come before the Secretary of State for her determination.

Planning Permission

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether companies who are registered in tax havens may sell planning permissions awarded in this country; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether companies registered in other countries may sell planning permissions awarded in this country; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The town and country planning system is designed to regulate the development and use of land in the public interest. It is concerned only with whether a proposed use of a site is acceptable in land-use planning terms. The system works on the principle that if permission is granted to one applicant it should be available to anyone else wishing to develop the site in the same way. This means that land with the benefit of planning permission could be sold, whether the land owner is based in the UK or abroad.

Planning Permission: Data Protection

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what circumstances individuals may submit objections to planning applications without their names and addresses being made available to the public.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities have a statutory duty to place planning applications on a planning register. Part I of the register is used for applications not yet decided together with copies of plans and drawings. After determination of the application, the decision, by the local planning authority should be placed on Part II of the register. The full requirements are set out in Article 25 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.
	Disclosure of other information is discretionary. Most local planning authorities elect to publish the comments of objectors and others who make representations about a proposal which would normally include their names and addresses. However, details of an objector's name and address could be withheld if there are good reasons to do so and no overwhelming public interest in making the information public. Guidance jointly produced by this Department and the Information Commissioner can be found on the Planning and Regulatory Services Online (PARSOL) website at:
	http://www.parsol.gov.uk/planning_advice_1.htm

Planning: Departmental Cooperation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she plans to have with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on implications for climate change of the provisions contained within the Planning Bill

John Healey: The Planning Bill, together with the Energy Bill and Climate Change Bill is a key part of the Government's strategy to accelerate the UK's transition to a low carbon economy and enable us to meet the challenge of climate change.
	The Bill's provisions for nationally significant infrastructure were developed jointly with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the Department for Transport, and we will continue to work closely with these Departments, and the new Department of Energy and Climate Change, as the legislation progresses.

Poverty

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding streams provide resources to tackle deprivation in super output areas.

John Healey: The following table provides a list of funding streams through which Communities and Local Government will provide £847 million in 2008-09 to tackle deprivation. It is not possible to identify exactly how much money from each of the funding streams is targeted exclusively at the most deprived super output areas as some activities may be district wide.
	
		
			  Funding stream  2008-09 spend (£ million) 
			 Working Neighbourhoods Fund 450 
			 New Deal for Communities 242 
			 Local Enterprise Growth Initiative 103.2 
			 Safer Stronger Communities Fund 92.1

Redress Review

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the terms of reference are of the Redress Review; and what forms of redress will be reviewed;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the Redress Review; who is conducting the review; and what evidence is being considered as part of the review.

Sadiq Khan: The Redress Review will consider redress arrangements across public services and the private sector to look at whether and how to introduce and extend the idea of redress for citizens where their council services fail to meet agreed standards. The full terms of reference are available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/communityempowerment/communitiesincontrol/redressreview/
	This review is being chaired by David Cook (chief executive of Kettering borough council) and is due to report to the Secretary of State in early 2009.

Regional Planning and Development: West Midlands

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library the report on the draft West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy commissioned from Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners by the Government Office for the West Midlands; what recommendations the report made in respect of building on green belt land; and what the cost to the public purse of the report was.

Sadiq Khan: The Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners study is evidence to demonstrate where additional housing growth could be accommodated. The study has concluded that it is possible to deliver higher levels of housing than the levels proposed in the submitted Regional Spatial Strategy. The study sets out three scenarios which demonstrate where additional housing growth could be accommodated in the region. Scenarios are not site specific rather they assess the potential for additional growth to be accommodated within local authority areas.
	The study has suggested that additional housing growth in Solihull and Bromsgrove would require green belt amendments. In Birmingham, Rugby and Warwick there may be a need for green belt amendments. This will ultimately depend upon the precise location and level of growth. The housing growth scenarios are not definitive proposals; merely an independent assessment of where additional housing could be accommodated. No decision has been made on the merits of the different scenarios and the Government have still to take a view on the study which they will do in their formal response to the Phase 2 revision.
	Discussions are still ongoing following the completion of the study and therefore costs have yet to be finalised.
	A copy of the report will be deposited in the Library of the House.

Rented Housing

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of tenants of private landlords where the landlord has a buy-to-let mortgage on the property occupied by the tenant.

Iain Wright: In January this year, Ministers commissioned Julie Rugg and David Rhodes of the centre for housing policy at the university of York to carry out an independent review of the private rented sector. The review team presented their findings on 23 October. Their report states that most recent records (drawn from the Council of Mortgage Lenders) indicate that, at the end of 2007, there were 1,024,300 outstanding buy-to-let mortgages. In the same year, mortgage advances for buy-to-let totalled 17 per cent. of total number of advances, including to home owners. In 2006 (the last year for which the relevant data are available), when the number of outstanding buy-to-let mortgages was 849,900, this constituted an estimated 28 per cent. of the total private rented stock. We do not hold data on whether all the properties covered by these mortgages are occupied by tenants.

Rented Housing

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to protect the residency of tenants within the private rented sector in circumstances where their landlord has defaulted on a buy-to-let mortgage and the lender wishes to sell the property to recover mortgage arrears.

Iain Wright: We believe it is good practice where possible for the lender to let the tenancy run and use the rental payments to cover the mortgage repayments until the end of the tenancy or where the tenancy has become a periodic tenancy to give the statutory two-month notice period as a minimum. Where this is not possible, we would hope that as a matter of best practice, the mortgage lender would feel able to keep the tenant informed and to give them as much notice as possible if they have to find alternative accommodation.
	Officials in the Department are in discussions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to explore ways in which best practice can be implemented and tenants can be kept better informed in these situations.
	If a tenant becomes homeless as a result of their landlord's failure to keep up with mortgage payments, the local council should be able to help in terms of providing temporary accommodation and assisting the tenant in their search for somewhere to live.

Small Business: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to promote the take-up of small business rate relief; and if she will take further measures in light of the current economic climate.

John Healey: It is for local councils to promote the scheme to local businesses. Communities and Local Government sent a business rates information letter to all local authorities in England on 19 September 2008 to remind them that they should, where possible, encourage businesses to apply for the relief. There are no present plans to take further action.

Small Business: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated take-up rate is of small business rate relief.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 901W.

Standards Board and Adjudication Panel: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated annual budget of the Standards Board and Adjudication Panel will be in each of the next three years.

John Healey: The Standards Board for England's estimate of its and the Adjudication Panel's annual budgets for the next three years are contained in the Standards Board's Corporate Plan, available on the Standard Board's website at:
	www.standardsboard.gov.uk.

Waste Disposal: Fixed Penalties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Empowerment White Paper's proposals for local government byelaws will give greater scope for waste collection authorities to issue fixed penalty notices for waste offences.

John Healey: No.

Waste Disposal: Non-domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether municipal rubbish and recycling facilities are liable for business rates; and what the criteria are under which the liability of such a facility is determined.

John Healey: All facilities for the management, recycling and treatment of the municipal waste stream are subject to business rates. For the majority of such facilities, the rateable value is arrived at on a 'rentals plus' valuation approach. This is one in which a contractors basis assessment of the existing buildings, plant, machinery, site infrastructure and other site improvements is added to the rental value for the bare site to arrive at its overall rateable value. For a lesser number of facilities, primarily energy from waste and transfer stations, their rateable values are determined by reference to either a full contractors or rentals valuation approach.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will amend the planning application process for wind farms so as to require assessments of  (a) the suitability of topography,  (b) meteorological viability and  (c) economic viability.

Iain Wright: Our planning policy statement (PPS) on climate change expects planning authorities to provide a framework that promotes and encourages renewable energy. The PPS advises planning authorities that they should not require applicants to demonstrate the overall need for renewable energy because new renewable energy projects provide crucial national benefits. Planning authorities are also asked not to question the energy justification for why a proposal must be sited in a particular location as this involves considerations of technical and commercial feasibility (including meteorological and economic viability) which are for the developer concerned.
	When determining planning applications, planning authorities should address the planning issues which arise from the proposed location of renewable energy projects, including the suitability of the topography. These concerns are set out in our published planning policy statements and guidance, together with the wider environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy projects that should also be taken into account.

Youth Advisors Panel

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what criteria the members of the Youth Advisors Panel will be chosen; whether they will be paid; and whether they will be required to complete a declaration of political activity.

Sadiq Khan: The nine members of the Youth Advisors Panel applied and were selected from the national pool of 300 trained Young Advisors to get broad regional representation. Young Advisors are aged between 15 and 21 and work as young consultants in their local communities. The Young Advisors Charity reimburses the panel for their travel expenses and time. They are not appointments which the Commissioner for Public Appointments has a remit to regulate and are therefore not required to sign a declaration of political activity.

Youth Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government have taken to encourage local authorities to improve community facilities for children and young people;
	(2)  what recent work the Government have undertaken with youth groups and community groups to improve local facilities.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to investing in facilities for children and young people. "Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities", which was published in July 2007, announced the launch of a programme of capital investment based on new Government investment and the reinvestment of unclaimed assets from dormant bank accounts. Our ambition is that this will lead to new and improved youth facilities in every constituency over the next 10 years. To kick start this process, we have launched "myplace" to deliver £190 million of Government investment over the next three years, "myplace" will deliver world class youth facilities in cross-sector partnership, driven by the active participation of young people and their views and needs.
	The Children's Plan, published in November 2007, announced new investment of £225 million for play over the CSR period 2008-11, and in April we committed a further £10 million to this agenda. This will fund up to 3,500 public play areas and 30 staffed adventure playgrounds nationally, with a priority on provision for eight to 13-year-olds. 30 pathfinder authorities will receive on average £2.1 million of capital and £500,000 of revenue each; and every other authority will receive on average £1 million capital and a small revenue grant.
	Our aim is that these programmes drive a transformation in the way facilities for children and young people are planned and delivered—particularly with regard to the role and influence of young people and the level of genuine cross-sector partnership working.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Architecture: Urban Areas

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much public funding has been provided to the Cityware project through the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; and for what purpose.

David Lammy: The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has awarded three linked grants for the Cityware project to the University of Bath, Imperial College and University College London. The project aims to develop theories, principles, tools and techniques to take account of people, architecture and technologies in the design of new digital systems.
	These grants were funded through responsive mode, where researchers can submit proposals in any area of EPSRC's remit, and were assessed by peer review to be of high quality. The total value of the grants is £1.3 million over the period October 2005 to August 2009.

Art Works: Royalties

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many responses were received to the recent consultation paper on the Artists' Resale Right derogation for deceased artists; how many submissions from artists and others supporting the case for 2010 were received; and when he plans to put the submissions from artists into the public domain.

David Lammy: Some 400 responses were received to the recent consultation paper on the Artist's Resale Right derogation for deceased artists. About 90 per cent. of the responses supported extending artist's resale right to deceased artists from 2010. In due course we will be publishing a summary of the responses to the consultation.

British Standards Institute

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what Minister is responsible for his Department's Memorandum of Understanding with the British Standards Institute.

David Lammy: Responsibility for the Department's Memorandum of Understanding with the British Standards Institution falls within Lord Drayson's portfolio as Minister of State for Science and Innovation.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of 17 to 20-year-olds have entered part-time higher education; and what proportion entered to undertake  (a) first degrees and  (b) other undergraduate qualifications in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Everyone with the talent and ambition to enter higher education should be able to benefit from the opportunity and to choose the pattern of study which best meets their needs. The numbers entering part-time higher education are at record levels and part-time study is particularly popular with adults over the age of thirty.
	The Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) is the sum of the HE initial participation rates for individual ages between 17 and 30 inclusive. It can be broken down to cover those aged 17 to 20. In the 2006/07 academic year, the participation rate for 17 to 20-year-olds entering part-time higher education courses was 1.5 per cent.
	The figures in the following table show participation rates for 17 to 20-year-olds entering first degree and other undergraduate courses broken down by mode of study.
	
		
			  Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) for 17 to 20-year-olds by level of study and mode of study, UK higher education institutions and English, Scottish and Welsh further education colleges—Academic year 2006/07 
			  Percentage 
			  Level of study  Full-time  Part-time  Total 
			 First degree 27.1 0.4 27.5 
			 Other undergraduate 2.1 0.7 2.9 
			  Notes: Due to rounding components may not sum to totals. The HEIPR covers English-domiciled first time entrants to higher education courses, which are expected to last for at least six months, and who remain on their course for at least six months.  Source: Underlying data for "Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000—2006/07 (Provisional)". Statistical First Release, published by DIUS (2008).

Higher Education: Closures

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information he holds on the number of university departments which have closed in the last five years; how many he expects to close in the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The precise information requested is not collected centrally. Higher education providers are free to decide which departments should open, close, contract or expand in the light of student demand, their relative strengths and competition from other providers.
	However, in relation to departmental closures involving vulnerable subjects of strategic importance, it has been our policy for some time that HEFCE and institutions should have early conversations to enable the transfer of provision between institutions to protect the interests of students and to seek to maintain capacity at regional and national level. The Government are pleased with the collaborative approach which institutions and the council have successfully adopted in relation to sustaining strategically important vulnerable subjects.

Higher Education: Research

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the timetable is for publication of the reports by the nine higher education review groups.

David Lammy: DIUS has received the nine contributions to the HE Debate. I have been impressed not only by the quality of input, but also by the scale of consultation each contributor has managed and I am grateful for their hard work. We will be publishing these contributions soon.
	The debate that has been started by these strands of work underlines the ability of the higher education sector itself to think radically and creatively about the future. But many other people too have a huge interest in the success of our universities and colleges. That is why the next stage in the debate is for a group of people whose cultural activities, businesses, public services depend on the success of our universities to articulate their perspective on what a world class higher education sector would look like in 10 to 15 years' time to support their needs. They will also provide challenges and responses to the recommendations that the original contributors put forward. In addition, the National Student Forum will provide the student angle.

Postgraduate Education: Admissions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of levels of undergraduate student debt on the number of applications for postgraduate courses in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: We have not made any specific assessment. There is a wide variety of postgraduate courses, and the decision to undertake postgraduate studies is influenced by a range of factors, and not just debt.
	Income contingent student loans are not like commercial loans. Student loans only attract an interest rate linked to inflation, so borrowers will repay no more, in real terms, than they borrowed. Borrowers repay at a rate of 9 per cent. of their income over a threshold of £15,000 a year. Repayment is progressive and therefore rises as income does. No payments are due if a borrower is not earning or income falls below the threshold.
	The Government's student support is generally targeted at undergraduates, to widen access and provide the opportunity to study for a first degree. Students of the Post Graduate Certificate in Education are, however, eligible for means-tested support.
	The Research Councils offer postgraduate awards; and career development loans are also available.

JUSTICE

Courts: Domestic Violence

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases the Alton specialist domestic abuse court has before it; and what plans he has to expand the court's capacity to handle all sentencing.

Bridget Prentice: Alton and Andover specialist domestic violence courts hear all DV cases listed for trial in the North Hampshire area. There are currently 13 cases listed before the Alton specialist domestic violence court to be heard by December 2008. Those cases then requiring reports before sentencing are transferred to Aldershot or Basingstoke magistrates courts where probation and custody services are available. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Departmental Mass Media

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which organisations provided media monitoring services to  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years; and what the total cost of each contract was;
	(2)  which organisations provided media monitoring services to  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years; and what the total cost was of each contract over that period.

Michael Wills: Details of organisations providing media monitoring services are outlined in the following table.
	Media monitoring services include clippings of newspaper articles on subjects relevant to the Department that are compiled on a daily basis and summaries of broadcast news programmes throughout the day. In common with other Government departments of a similar size, the Ministry of Justice monitors a wide range of media to ensure Government policy is reported accurately and inaccuracies are rebutted.
	
		
			  MoJ 
			   Durrants  MMU  Total 
			 2005-06 59,606.61 36,000.00 95,606.61 
			 2006-07 20,548.55 34,900.00 55,448.55 
			 2007-08 56,662.93 46,722.70 103,385.63 
		
	
	 HMCS
	(1)Nil return
	(1) Department does not hold own contract with Durrants or MMU, served by MoJ contract.
	
		
			  OPG 
			   Durrants  Total 
			 2005-06 0.00 0.00 
			 2006-07 0.00 0.00 
			 2007-08 7,118.74 7,118.74 
		
	
	 Tribunals
	(1) Nil return
	(1) Department does not hold own contract with Durrants or MMU, served by MoJ contract.
	
		
			  National Archives 
			   Adfero Newsmanager (media management/ monitoring)  Adfero Newsmanager (clippings)  Cision (media management)  Cision (clippings and media monitoring)  Meltwater News  Total 
			 2005-06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2006-07 0.00 0.00 23,446.00 220.00 0.00 23,666.00 
			 2007-08 0.00 0.00 11,660.00 13,169.00 5,288.00 24,829.00 
		
	
	 Boundary Commission - England
	Nil return
	 Boundary Commission - Wales Office
	Nil return
	
		
			  Land Registry 
			   Durrants  Total 
			 2005-06 19,537.24 19,537.24 
			 2006-07 28,751.35 28,751.35 
			 2007-08 28,035.64 28,035.64 
		
	
	
		
			  Legal Services Commission 
			   Adfero Limited  Durrants  Total 
			 2005-06 5,853.87 24,038.20 29,892.07 
			 2006-07 0.00 24,170.03 24,170.03 
			 2007-08 0.00 27,159.00 27,159.00 
		
	
	 Judicial Appointments Commission
	(2)Nil return
	(2) Department does not hold own contract with Durrants, served by Judicial Communications Office contract
	
		
			  Judicial Communications Office 
			   Durrants  MMU  Total 
			 2005-06 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2006-07 25,754.07 9,023.85 34,777.92 
			 2007-08 41,091.57 19,457.30 60,548.87

Departmental Overtime

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of overtime payments to staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) HM Prison Service and  (c) other agencies for which he is responsible in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Wills: To provide the cost of overtime payments to staff in the Department and its agencies for the last 10 years could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	However, for the latest available information I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 40-42W.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what personal training courses at public expense he has undertaken since his appointment.

Jack Straw: None.

Employment Agencies

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which recruitment agencies  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have used in the last three years; and how much was paid to each of these recruitment agencies in each year.

Michael Wills: The civil service recruitment website, which was launched in December 2002, is the site of first choice for central Government recruitment. This site is extensively used by the MOJ. There is no cost associated with this facility.
	The MOJ utilises the central framework of recruitment agency services owned by the Cabinet Office. This framework provides access to the most effective recruitment agencies and provides value for money through a single government wide contract. Below the SCS level the Ministry does not hold this information centrally. Therefore, it is not possible to collate this without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Recruitment agency services for search and selection are used to fill some externally advertised SCS posts.
	The Ministry's costs for these services have been recorded since its creation on 9 May 2007 in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007 623,649.46 
			 2008 670,471.57 
			  Note: 2008 data relate to all campaigns invoiced to data

HMP Whitemoor: Homicide

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many attempted murders there were at HMP Whitemoor which did not result in a prisoner being charged by the police in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: Any assault incident may be referred to the police for investigation and consideration as to whether any criminal charges are appropriate. Where the conclusion of the police and Crown Prosecution Service is that an assault does not justify any criminal proceedings, a disciplinary charge under prison rules for the offence of assault would be considered. There is no separate offence under prison discipline rules of attempted murder. Prisons record information on assaults on the national offender management service incident reporting system, which is held centrally and includes an indication of whether an assault is categorised as a serious assault.

Land Registry: Documents

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he next expects to meet Land Registry officials to discuss its proposed destruction of original documents.

Michael Wills: I regularly meet officials from the Land Registry to discuss a range of issues. The next scheduled meeting with the Land Registry is on 24 November, and this issue may be discussed.

Land Registry: Documents

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many original documents are stored by the Land Registry; and what the total number of pages stored is.

Michael Wills: While Land Registry's filing operation is carefully maintained, no data are available that detail the number of documents (or pages) stored. However it is estimated that the figure is in excess of 120 million (with an estimated number of pages of 735 million).

Legal Profession: Finance

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information he holds on the amount of funds held in law firms' client accounts nationally.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) does not hold any information on the amount of funds held by law firms' client accounts nationally.

Licensed Premises: Proof of Identity

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if his Department will undertake a privacy impact assessment of the use of the ID Clubscan system in nightclubs;
	(2)  whether the Information Commissioner has assessed whether the ID Clubscan system used in nightclubs is a breach of data protection principles.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice has policy rather than operational responsibility for data protection and the Data Protection Act. As such, it is not for the Ministry of Justice to undertake a privacy impact assessment (PIA) on the Clubscan system. The system was developed by a private company and it is for that company to decide whether to complete a PIA.
	The Information Commissioner in his role as the independent regulator for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 has inspected installations of working Clubscan systems and has had discussions with manufacturers to ensure that the scanners comply with the law.

Secure Accommodation: Restraint Techniques

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will publish the Government's response to the review of restraint techniques in secure accommodation for children.

David Hanson: In a written ministerial statement on Wednesday 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 33WS, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Children, Young People and Families and I announced our intention of publishing the report prepared by Peter Smallridge and Andrew Williamson on the use of restraint in juvenile secure settings, together with the Government's response, by 15 December.

Security Industry Act 2001: Prosecutions

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions were brought for offences committed contrary to the Security Industry Act 2001 in each region in each year since the Act came into force; and how many of these prosecutions were successful in each year.

Maria Eagle: Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, in England and Wales, broken down by region from 2004 to 2006 are in the following table. Data for 2007 will be available at the end of November 2008.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, in England and Wales, broken down by region, 2004( 1)  to 2006( 2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Region  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East — 8 2 — 2 1 
			 North West 1 7 5 1 4 5 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside — 18 10 — 3 6 
			 East Midlands — 17 15 — 4 10 
			 West Midlands — 31 12 — 11 7 
			 East of England — 6 3 — 3 2 
			 London 2 — 19 1 — 12 
			 South East 7 8 10 7 5 5 
			 South West — 7 9 — 3 3 
			 Wales 1 66 71 1 31 42 
			
			 England and Wales 11 168 156 10 66 93 
			 (1) Licensing under the Private Security Industry Act commenced, on a phased basis, in 2004; as a result there are no data from 2001 to 2003. (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which private sector companies are participating in Local Education Partnerships to deliver Building Schools for the Future projects.

Jim Knight: The private sector providers for each of the Local Education Partnerships, including the supply chain is available on the Partnership for Schools website, our Building Schools for the Future delivery partner, and therefore is in the public domain. The web site address is:
	www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk.

Children

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2008,  Official Report, column 284W, how many people with children under five years old live in each of the local authorities that are in the  (a) 10 per cent. most and  (b) 10 per cent. least deprived local authorities.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available centrally.

Children: Prisoners

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if his Department will consider giving local safeguarding children boards a role in identifying and supporting the children of imprisoned parents.

Beverley Hughes: Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) set local priorities for inter-agency safeguarding work and already have a role in ensuring that agencies work together to safeguard all children (including those of prisoners). Over the past two years, LSCBs have established themselves as a crucial part of the children's services landscape. Their role in co-ordinating, and ensuring the effectiveness of, action by partner agencies is vital in the drive to improve safeguarding practice in local areas.
	The DCSF is undertaking a stocktake of LSCBs, and I will ensure that this issue is considered as part of this review, to develop recommendations that will help all LSCBs perform at the level of the best. The stocktake will be conducted in close collaboration with local authority and other partners and will report in spring 2009.

Children: Prisoners

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issued to local authorities on the adequate protection and care of children whose parent or parents are  (a) remanded in custody and  (b) sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

Beverley Hughes: "Working Together to Safeguard Children" sets out how agencies should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Arrangements made to safeguard children whose parent or parents are remanded in custody or sentenced to a period of imprisonment should be in line with this guidance. Sure Start Children's Centre Practice Guidance provides guidance on offering personalised and appropriate services for the children and families of prisoners.
	Families of offenders and prisoners have been identified to local authorities as a priority group in allocating the significantly increased funding (over £120 million in 2008-11) for targeted initiatives to support families with high levels of need. This includes funding for local authorities to employ expert parenting practitioners and increase the number of evidence based parenting programmes for parents of children at risk, including offender families.

Education Maintenance Allowance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many students had  (a) applied for an education maintenance allowance (EMA),  (b) been processed for an EMA and  (c) been issued with a notice of entitlement as at 30 September 2008;
	(2)  how many students had been assessed as eligible for the  (a) £30 education maintenance allowance (EMA),  (b) the £20 EMA and  (c) the £10 EMA by (i) 8 September and (ii) 6 October 2008;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of applicants eligible for the full education maintenance allowance of  (a) £30,  (b) £20 and  (c) £10 had not received their allowance by (i) 8 September and (ii) 6 October 2008;
	(4)  for how many hours Liberata's  (a) helpline and  (b) online portal were inaccessible between 4 August and 6 October 2008;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the performance of Liberata in handling the education maintenance allowance application procedure;
	(6)  what the average time of processing applications for education maintenance allowance was in the period from 1 May to 6 October 2008;
	(7)  how many eligible students from each of the lowest three socio-economic groupings had not received their education maintenance allowance by  (a) 8 September and  (b) 6 October 2008;
	(8)  what percentage of eligible applicants have received their education maintenance allowance in each further education college;
	(9)  how many unprocessed education maintenance allowance applications there were on  (a) 8 September and  (b) 6 October 2008;
	(10)  what estimate he has made of when  (a) all education maintenance allowance applications will have been processed and  (b) all eligible students will have received their allowance;
	(11)  what steps he has taken to prevent financial hardship for students yet to receive their education maintenance allowance; and whether these apply across England.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold information about applications and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the decision by Liberata to reduce the number of its employees in Nelson, Lancashire on the administration of the education maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the value is of the contract with Liberata to administer the education maintenance allowance;
	(3)  how many students are waiting for their education maintenance allowance to be processed.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and manage the contract with Liberata. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1502-03W, on schools: assessments, what the estimated cost is of supplying the information which was not provided in the answer.

Jim Knight: It was estimated that the cost of answering the closely related questions would be over £1,500.

Education: Finance

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will ensure that the formula for distributing education funding will incorporate a factor for sparsity in respect of  (a) Early Years and  (b) secondary education in future years.

Jim Knight: The review of the Dedicated Schools Grant is wide-ranging and includes specifically looking at the funding for sparsity and for early years. The aim of the review is to develop a funding formula which distributes resources in line with relative need, recognising the different costs of educating particular groups of pupils and providing education in different areas. Our aim is to support schools and LAs in raising the educational achievement of all pupils and narrow achievement gaps, particularly those from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds.
	All stakeholders, including schools themselves, have the opportunity to contribute to the review according to their interests. We have established a DSG Formula Review Group with representation from central and local government, teaching associations, unions representing support staff and governors' organisations. Papers and minutes from the group are published on the TeacherNet website at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/dsgformulareview/
	It would not be appropriate to give any guarantee about the outcome of the review while it is still in the process of gathering evidence on the main issues. We expect to go out to consultation on proposals for a new funding formula in early 2010 after which proposals will be further developed in the light of the consultation responses.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2008,  Official Report, column 577W, on GCSEs, how the £4,000 figure was calculated; and how many hours of work were required to compile the information requested.

Jim Knight: As both of this question and PQ 227386 relate to A*-C achievement in GCSE modern languages in each year since 1997 we linked these two PQs.
	If the information requested could be produced, it would come from the Achievement and Attainment Tables data. That data is essentially hierarchical—each pupil can sit many exams, each school has many pupils and each local authority has many schools. To deal with that, DCSF manage the data as a series of pre-specified, separate and distinct data files: exam, pupil, school, local authority and national.
	That allows the Department to quickly and easily answer questions and produce analyses at a range of different levels and on a range of different measures and indicators. However, those measures and indicators must be pre-specified and the data files are produced under contract for, and delivered to, the Department. A lot of work is put into ensuring the fullest range of relevant measures and indicators are pre-specified and available and updated.
	However, it becomes more difficult and expensive to produce analyses where a measure or indicator has not been pre-specified. Essentially, that requires going much further back into the data file production process—agreeing classifications, developing and agreeing production rules and processes, aggregating data (e.g. from examination level to pupil level), matching data across levels (e.g. to identify whether a pupil is in a comprehensive school), extensive quality assurance to check the results and then actual production of the tables and analysis required.
	The key point is that, at school and pupil level (for the range of years requested), there are not pre-specified variables relating to Modern Foreign Languages—which would be required to answer these two questions.
	The initial estimate of £4,000 was based on the assumption that DCSF would need to ask contractors to create additional variables, aggregations and matches across levels—with associated development and quality assurance.
	In some cases, we have the option of carrying out the work ourselves, without involving our contractor in going back to a very early stage in the production process. We have reconsidered on that basis and estimate that would cost £2,200. An explanation of this cost is given as follows:
	The main tasks are as outlined earlier—developing and agreeing classifications, production rules and processes, aggregating data across levels, matching data across levels, quality assurance and final production. This is a complex data production and manipulation process.
	As PQ 224479 asked for 11 years worth of information, at approximately half a day's work per year, plus a day extra for checking, this would result in a cost of around £1,300 (circa 45 hours).
	PQ 224500 does not require an aggregation up to school level so producing the information is slightly simpler but the process would still require implementing the production rules, creating a suitable variable, aggregating up to pupil level and matching to the pupil file. Again, substantial quality assurance checks would be needed.
	This process would need to be repeated for each year and would take longer than the disproportionate threshold of at least three and a half days of HEO-equivalent grade's work and at least another day for a different HEO (or higher) to verify it. This amounts to £900 (circa 32 hours).

Grammar Schools: Admissions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the changes in grammar school admission numbers consequent upon the Building Schools for the Future programme 
	(1)  in the Kent local authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Ashford,  (b) Canterbury,  (c) Dartford,  (d) Dover,  (e) Faversham and mid Kent,  (f) Folkestone and Hythe,  (g) Gravesham,  (h) Maidstone and the Weald,  (i) Sittingbourne and Sheppey,  (j) South Thanet,  (k) Tonbridge and Malling and  (l) Tunbridge Wells;
	(2)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Stoke on Trent South,  (b) The Wrekin and  (c) Wolverhampton South West;
	(3)  in the Wirral Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Wirral South and  (b) Wirral West;
	(4)  in Warwickshire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Rugby and Kenilworth and  (b) Stratford upon Avon;
	(5)  in the Trafford Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Altrincham and Sale West,  (b) Stretford and Urmston and  (c) Wythenshawe and Sale East;
	(6)  in Torbay Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Torbay and  (b) Totnes;
	(7)  in the Sutton Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Carshalton and Wallington,  (b) Epsom and Ewell and  (c) Sutton and Cheam;
	(8)  in the Redbridge Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Chingford and Woodford Green and  (b) Ilford North;
	(9)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Bournemouth East,  (b) East Devon,  (c) Plymouth, Sutton,  (d) Mid Dorset and North Poole,  (e) Reading East and  (f) Salisbury;
	(10)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Halifax,  (b) Penrith and the Border,  (c) Dewsbury,  (d) Liverpool, Wavertree and  (e) Skipton and Ripon;
	(11)  in the Medway Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Chatham and Aylesford,  (b) Gillingham and  (c) Medway;
	(12)  in the Lincolnshire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Boston and Skegness,  (b) Gainsborough,  (c) Grantham and Stamford,  (d) Louth and Horncastle,  (e) Sleaford and North Hykeham and  (f) South Holland and The Deepings;
	(13)  in the Lancashire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Lancaster and Wyre,  (b) Ribble Valley and  (c) Rossendale and Darwen;
	(14)  in the Kingston upon Thames Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Kingston and Surbiton and  (b) Richmond Park;
	(15)  in the Gloucestershire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Cheltenham,  (b) Gloucester and  (c) Stroud;
	(16)  in the Essex Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Colchester and  (b) West Chelmsford;
	(17)  in the Buckinghamshire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Aylesbury,  (b) Beaconsfield,  (c) Buckingham,  (d) Chesham and Amersham and  (e) Wycombe;
	(18)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Edmonton,  (b) Orpington and  (c) Slough;
	(19)  in the Birmingham Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Edgbaston,  (b) Ladywood,  (c) Selly Oak and  (d) Sutton Coldfield;
	(20)  in the Barnet Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Chipping Barnet and  (b) Finchley and Golders Green;
	(21)  in the Walsall Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Aldridge-Brownhills and  (b) Walsall South.

Jim Knight: Each local authority assesses its pupil capacity just before entering the Building Schools for the Future programme, and puts forward proposals in its Strategy for Change (SfC) submission. The following table provides the figures where available for each of the constituencies requested.
	
		
			  Authority  Constituency  BSF Status 
			 Barnet Chipping Barnet Not yet entered BSF(1) 
			  Finchley and Golders Green (1)— 
			
			 Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham's grammar schools are not part of its current BSF waves and will be addressed in later phases of the programme(2). 
			  Ladywood (2)— 
			  Selly Oak (2)— 
			  Sutton Coldfield (2)— 
			
			 Bournemouth Bournemouth East Bournemouth's grammar schools are not part of the Wave 6 project and will be addressed in later waves of the programme 
			
			 Bromley Orpington Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Not yet entered BSF(3) 
			  Beaconsfield (3)— 
			  Buckingham (3)— 
			  Chesham and Amersham (3)— 
			  Wycombe (3)— 
			
			 Calderdale Halifax Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Cumbria Penrith and the Border Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Devon East Devon Not yet entered BSF(4) 
			  Plymouth, Sutton (4)— 
			
			 Dorset Mid Dorset and North Poole Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Enfield Edmonton Enfield is in Wave 6a of BSF, but has not formally started its project so no information is available 
			
			 Essex Colchester Essex's Wave 4 BSF programme is centered on Basildon and Canvey Island, where there are no grammar schools; these will be addressed in later waves(5) 
			  West Chelmsford (5)— 
			
			
			 Gloucestershire Cheltenham Not yet entered BSF(6) 
			  Gloucester (6)— 
			  Stroud (6)— 
			
			 Kent South Thanet Chatham House Grammar School for Boys is proposed to reduce from 749 to 642 and Clarendon House Grammar school from 790 to 681; the schools are proposed to collocate as part of Kent's Wave 4 project. Dane Court Grammar School will reduce from 1,170 to 1,111 as part of Kent's Wave 3 programme., 
			  Sittingbourne and Sheppey Borden Grammar School is in Kent's Wave 6 programme which has not started yet 
			  Gravesham Gravesend Grammar School is proposed to reduce from 1,013 to 956 (11-18) as part of Kent's Wave 4 project. Gravesend Grammar School for Girls is proposed to reduce from 981 to 927 (11-18) as part of Kent's Wave 4 project. 
			  Faversham and mid-Kent Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is in Kent's Wave 6 programme which has not started yet. 
			  Ashford The other areas of Kent have not yet entered BSF(7). 
			  Canterbury (7)— 
			  Dartford (7)— 
			  Dover (7)— 
			  Folkestone and Hythe (7)— 
			  Maidstone and the Weald (7)— 
			  Tonbridge and Malling (7)— 
			  Tunbridge Wells (7)— 
			
			 Kingston upon Thames Kingston and Surbiton Not yet entered BSF(8) 
			  Richmond Park (8)— 
			
			 Kirklees Dewsbury Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Lancashire Lancaster and Wyre There are no grammar schools in Lancashire's wave 1 project. They will be addressed in later wave of the programme(9). 
			  Ribble Valley (9)— 
			  Rossendale and Darwen (9)— 
			
			 Lincolnshire Boston and Skegness Not yet entered BSF(10) 
			  Gainsborough (10)— 
			  Grantham and Stamford (10)— 
			  Louth and Horncastle (10)— 
			  Sleaford and North Hykeham (10)— 
			  South Holland and the Deepings (10)— 
			
			 Liverpool Liverpool Wavertree Liverpool has just submitted its SfCl for Wave 6 and is proposing to retain the current capacity of 996 (11-18) at The Blue Coat School 
			
			 Medway Chatham and Aylesford Not yet entered BSF(11) 
			  Gillingham (11)— 
			  Medway (11)— 
			
			 North Yorkshire Skipton and Ripon Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Reading Reading East Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Redbridge Chingford and Woodford Green Not yet entered BSF(12) 
			  Ilford North (12)— 
			
			 Slough Slough Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Stoke on-Trent Stoke on Trent South Stoke is revising its BSF plans following its Children's Services being place in intervention; it has not submitted its SfC1 to the Department yet so no information is available 
			
			 Sutton Carshalton and Wallington Not yet entered BSF(13) 
			  Epsom and Ewell (13)— 
			  Sutton and Cheam (13)— 
			
			 Torbay Torbay Not yet entered BSF(14) 
			  Totnes (14)— 
			
			 Trafford Altrincham and Sale West Not yet entered BSF(15) 
			  Stretford and Urmston (15)— 
			  Wythenshawe and Sale East (15)— 
			
			 Walsall Aldridge-Brownhills Walsall is in Wave 6a of BSF, but has not formally started its project so no information is yet available(16) 
			  Walsall South (16)— 
			
			 Warwickshire Rugby and Kenilworth Not yet entered BSF(17) 
			  Stratford upon Avon (17)— 
			
			 Wiltshire Salisbury Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Wirral Wirral South Not yet entered BSF(18) 
			  Wirral West (18)— 
			
			 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton South West Wolverhampton Girls' High is proposed to expand from 747 to 830 places 11-18 in Wolverhampton's Wave 4 project.

Health Education: Sex

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools do not have a sex and relationship education policy;
	(2)  how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools do not provide sex and relationship education in accordance with the personal, social and health education guidelines.

Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect this information. However, all schools are required to have an up-to-date sex and relationship education policy which, among other things, sets out how sex and relationship education will be provided and how it will be monitored and evaluated. Primary school policies should have clear parameters on what children will be taught in the transition year before moving to secondary school; secondary school policies must set out how the relevant National Curriculum Science topics will be taught and how sex and relationship education will be provided as part of personal, social and health education. The Department's "Sex and Relationships Guidance" (2000) for schools outlines their responsibilities in this area.

Higher Education: Admissions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many UCAS points on average those entering BEd courses had in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The average qualification level of first year trainees on undergraduate initial teacher training (ITT) courses, mainly leading to a bachelor of education is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Average qualification of undergraduate entrants to ITT 
			  Academic year  Average tariff score 
			 2002/03 238.7 
			 2003/04 249.1 
			 2004/05 255.1 
			 2005/06 266.5 
			 2006/07 277.2 
			  Notes: 1. UCAS tariff score was used to assess candidates from 2002/03 onwards. 2. UCAS introduced the tariff score to take account of curriculum 2000. It was designed to make different qualifications comparable. It is based on a number of qualifications including A/AS levels. Grade A at A-level scores 120 points; grade B scores 100 points; grade C scores 80 points; grade D scores 60 points and grade E scores 40 points. Tariff scores cover those entrants for whom data are collected. Tariff score data are not collected for some qualifications, including Access courses, OND/ONC, HND/HNC, GCE, A/SCE, Higher, GNVQ/GSVQ, NVQ/SVQ level 3. 3. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, Open universities and SCITTs.  Source: TDA Performance Profiles

National Academy for Parenting Practitioners: Finance

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has provided to the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners in each year since it was established; and how much it plans to provide to the academy in the next three years.

Beverley Hughes: The Department has set aside up to £30 million for the academy covering the three year period, 2007-10. The Department provided £7.4 million to the academy in 2007-08, and expects to provide around £10 million in 2008-09, and £10 million in 2009-10.
	Funding beyond 2009-10 has not yet been determined and will be subject to agreement through the comprehensive spending review.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which officials from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority signed the contract with ETS for the administration and marking of the Key Stage 2 and 3 SAT tests.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of National Curriculum tests. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) administers the tests and managed the delivery contract with ETS Europe, on QCA's behalf.
	I have been informed that Sir Anthony Greener, the Chairman of QCA, signed the contract with ETS Europe.

National Curriculum Tests

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what  (a) evidence and  (b) references were sought regarding the suitability of ETS as a provider of marking services for key stage 2 and 3 tests; and what account was taken of the experience of the California State Education Board in this matter;
	(2)  what information or references were submitted by ETS in tendering for the contract to provide marking services for key stage 2 and 3 tests in relation to its performance in similar projects in the US; and what steps he took to  (a) verify and  (b) test such information or references.

Jim Knight: Delivery of National Curriculum Tests is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The QCA Board took decisions on the procurement and award of contracts and the hon. member may wish to approach the QCA directly for this information.

Playgrounds

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government has taken to improve children's outdoor play areas.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In the Children's Plan we announced new investment of £225 million for play over the CSR period 2008-11, and in April we committed a further £10 million to this agenda. This will fund up to 3,500 public play areas and 30 staffed adventure playgrounds nationally. 30 pathfinder authorities will receive on average £2.1 million of capital and £500,000 of revenue each; and every other authority will receive on average £1 million capital and a small revenue grant.
	There are currently 63 local authorities receiving their allocated funding as part of a first wave. These authorities are being supported by Play England, who have been appointed as the external support body to directly assist local authorities in delivering their allocated funding. The timing of funding for all remaining local authorities will be announced by the end of November.
	This investment is in recognition of the important part play has enabling children to enjoy a happy, healthy childhood. It will provide new capital funding for every local authority in England, and will provide a real opportunity for Children's Trusts to transform local play areas throughout the country. Underpinning our new investment will be the first national Play Strategy for England. We consulted on the draft strategy 'Fair Play' over the summer, and received a very strong and positive response. We will publish our response to the consultation and final Play Strategy shortly.

Primary Education: Rural Areas

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department's review of the designated schools grant will take into account the contribution that small rural primary schools make to their communities and to the education of disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

Jim Knight: The review of the dedicated schools grant is wide-ranging and includes specifically looking at the funding for sparsity, deprivation and special educational needs. The aim of the review is to develop a funding formula which distributes resources in line with relative need, recognising the different costs of educating particular groups of pupils and providing education in different areas. Our aim is to support schools and LAs in raising the educational achievement of all pupils and narrow achievement gaps, particularly those from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds. It will therefore take into account the contribution of small rural primary schools, alongside other schools, in achieving those aims.
	All stakeholders, including schools themselves, have the opportunity to contribute to the review according to their interests. We have established a DSG Formula Review Group with representation from central and local government, teaching associations, unions representing support staff and governors' organisations. Papers and minutes from the group are published on the TeacherNet website at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/dsgformulareview/.

Pupils: Intimidation

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on bullying behaviour on school buses; what steps he is taking to monitor trends in levels of such behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Responses to the Staying Safe consultation, which closed on 31 October 2007, included concerns about safety on bus journeys to and from school. In the Staying Safe Action Plan (February 2008), the Government committed to launching new guidance and training on tackling bullying which takes place outside of schools. Following a competitive tendering process, we have appointed the charity 4Children to develop guidance and training tools and materials on tackling bullying outside of schools. These will be published early in 2009. The guidance and materials will specifically include advice to help practitioners tackle bullying during journeys to and from school and on public transport.
	Ofsted's Tellus 3 survey, published in October 2008, includes for the first time a question on the frequency of bullying both inside and outside school, including journeys to and from school. Although the survey does not include a measure specifically relating to buses, it does include a question on how safe children feel on public transport and journeys to and from school. Responses to these questions provide a valuable source of information on the scale of bullying outside school.
	My Department promotes local good practice to monitor and tackle bullying, such as having school prefects act as bullying monitors on school buses. It also encourages local initiatives to tackle bad behaviour on buses, such as the Purbeck Bus Forum which operates in the hon. Member's constituency. To improve monitoring at a local level, my Department is also proposing to introduce a statutory requirement for all schools to record, although not report, incidents of verbal or physical abuse which are linked to bullying. We intend to consult key stakeholders on this over the coming months and will legislate at the earliest possible opportunity in 2009. We will continue also to recommend that schools supply these recorded data to their local authority, so that trends across the authority can be identified and area-wide initiatives evaluated.

Schools: Inspections

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will issue guidance to Ofsted on reducing the number of inspections carried out at schools which it consistently rates highly.

Jim Knight: Ofsted has consulted on, and is currently developing, proposals for a more differentiated school inspection system under which the frequency of inspection for good and outstanding schools will reduce. This is consistent with the Government's principles of public service inspections and Ofsted's statutory functions, both of which require inspection to be proportionate to risk. Subject to the passage of legislation, the new school inspection arrangements will be introduced in autumn 2009.

Schools: Land

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons  (a) academies and  (b) foundation schools are granted ownership of the land and buildings they occupy; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government consider that schools are more likely to achieve high standards when they take responsibility for their own future. Control of land and buildings, together with the other freedoms that self-governance brings, is part of this. The land is held in trust for the school by the governing body or the trust. There are protections relating to the disposal of any publicly provided land.
	The majority of academies occupy their land and buildings through a lease from the local authority (LA). There are in some cases arrangements where academies are built on land owned by a third party (other than the LA) but the land and buildings are leased to the academy trust.
	Those academies that were built early in the programme were typically given the freehold of their land by the LA as part of the overall package of transfer of responsibility and control. Since 2006 lease arrangements have been favoured.
	Foundation Schools are self-governing and ownership of the land contributes to their autonomy, enabling governing bodies to take decisions about the whole of their school, independent of the local authority.

Shared Residence Orders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many shared residence orders were issued in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not held centrally by the Department.

Specialised Diplomas: Rural Areas

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what additional funds will be available to help rural schools provide intra-institutional transport for students undertaking a diploma course in a joint educational setting.

Jim Knight: In local authorities where Diploma delivery has started, those areas receive a range of additional funding to support Diploma delivery costs, which includes a consortia support grant, access to a range of training support, and the Diploma Specific Grant. The Diploma Specific Grant is calculated using a number of factors, one of which is 'sparsity', so this means that an extra £120 per learner is made available to rural areas in addition to the other support they receive.
	In addition, we are also making available £23 million over the next two years to the 40 most rural areas in the country, to help drive local solutions and innovation and support the delivery of Diplomas in these areas. This includes funding for the post of a Travel and Access Co-ordinator in each of the 40 most rural areas.

Teachers: Manpower

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of  (a) full-and  (b) part-time (i) primary and (ii) secondary school teachers who entered local authority maintained sector service in England in the year after qualification in March (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005 was still in such service three years later, broken down by subject of initial teacher training.

Jim Knight: The information requested is only partially available and is currently being collated. I will write to the hon. Member with the information and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

Teachers: Manpower

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers there were per 100 pupils in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of teachers employed per 100 pupils in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency, Hertfordshire local authority and England, in January of each year, 1997 to 2008.
	
		
			  Teachers per 100 pupils in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) ,  January 1997 to 2008 ,  Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and England 
			   Primary  Secondary 
			   Hemel Hempstead  Hertfordshire  England  Hemel Hempstead  Hertfordshire  England 
			 1997 4.3 4.4 4.3 6.0 6.3 6.0 
			 1998 4.3 4.3 4.2 6.2 6.2 5.9 
			 1999 4.3 4.3 4.2 6.2 6.1 5.9 
			 2000 4.2 4.3 4.3 6.0 6.0 5.8 
			 2001 4.3 4.4 4.4 6.1 6.0 5.8 
			 2002 4.4 4.4 4.4 6,0 5.9 5.9 
			 2003 4.5 4.3 4.4 5.8 5.9 5.9 
			 2004 4.4 4.4 4.4 5.8 5.8 5.9 
			 2005 4.6 4.4 4.4 5.9 5.9 6.0 
			 2006 4.6 4.5 4.5 5.9 6.0 6.0 
			 2007 4.3 4.3 4.6 5.9 6.1 6.1 
			 2008 4.5 4.4 4.6 6.0 6.1 6.2 
			 (1) Excludes academies.  Source: School Census.

Teachers: Qualifications

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many newly qualified teachers who had a grade  (a) A or A*,  (b) B and  (c) C GCSE in (i) English and (ii) mathematics took up a post in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Qualifications

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of those  (a) going into teacher training and  (b) gaining qualified teacher status in the last year for which data are available had a first degree from a Russell Group university (i) excluding and (ii) including BEd degrees.

Jim Knight: Information on the institution from which trainee teachers gained their first degree is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Training

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teacher trainees did not pass their teacher training in each of the last 10 years, broken down by graduate route into teacher training.

Jim Knight: Information about failure to complete initial teacher training (ITT) courses is only available for trainees in their final year of training. The following tables show the number of final year ITT trainees for each academic year between 1998/99 and 2006/07 who did not gain qualified teacher status (QTS) in their final year of training and, of these, the number who left their course before completion and the number where the outcome of QTS is unknown for:
	1. Postgraduate ITT trainees;
	2. Undergraduate ITT trainees; and
	3. Employment-based routes (EBR) trainees.
	Information relating to the number of trainees through mainstream courses gaining QTS is only available from 1998/99 onwards. The same information for trainees on employment-based routes was only collected from 2001/02 onwards.
	
		
			  1. Postgraduate ITT trainee s 
			 Number of postgraduate final year trainees who have not gained QTS 
			   Total number of mainstream trainees in their final year  Number of mainstream final year trainees gaining QTS  Known not to have completed course  Undefined outcome  Other outcome  Total 
			 1998/99 17,430 15,160 1,260 130 880 2,270 
			 1999/2000 17,170 14,850 1,250 140 940 2,320 
			 2000/01 18,680 16,150 1,310 250 970 2,530 
			 2001/02 19,480 16,940 1,090 0 1,450 2,540 
			 2002/03 21,590 19,180 1,020 (1)— 1,400 2,410 
			 2003/04 24,590 21,460 1,430 0 1,700 3,130 
			 2004/05 25,200 21,780 1,390 20 2,010 3,420 
			 2005/06 25,100 21,600 1,290 10 2,210 3,500 
			 2006/07 24,660 21,080 1,210 (1)— 2,370 3,580 
			 (1) Less than 5.  Notes: 1. Includes trainees from universities and other higher education institutions, school centred initial teacher training and Open universities but exclude employment-based routes (EBR). 2. Numbers are individually rounded to the nearest 10 and therefore may not sum. 3. 'Other outcome' includes final year trainees who are yet to complete their course, those with withheld QTS (including those where their skills test were not met, their standards were not met and where both their standards and skills test were not met) and those where the skills test has not been taken (including those whose standards were met and those whose standards were not met).  Source: TDA Performance Profiles. 
		
	
	
		
			  2 .  Undergraduate  ITT trainee s 
			 Number of postgraduate final year trainees who have not gained QTS 
			   Total number of mainstream trainees in their final year  Number of mainstream final year trainees gaining QTS  Known not to have completed course  Undefined outcome  Other outcome  Total 
			 1998/99 9,770 8,910 50 340 470 860 
			 1999/2000 7,490 6,850 40 210 390 640 
			 2000/01 7,040 6,490 40 240 270 550 
			 2001/02 6,870 6,340 40 0 490 530 
			 2002/03 6,980 6,250 40 (1)— 690 730 
			 2003/04 6,380 5,880 50 0 460 500 
			 2004/05 6,160 5,360 20 0 770 790 
			 2005/06 6,120 5,410 20 10 680 710 
			 2006/07 6,690 5,900 40 0 750 790 
			 (1) Less than 5.  Notes: 1. Includes trainees from universities and other higher education institutions, school and Open universities but exclude employment-based routes (EBR). 2. Numbers are individually rounded to the nearest 10 and therefore may not sum. 3. 'Other outcome' includes final year trainees who are yet to complete their course, those with withheld QTS (including those where their skills test were not met, their standards were not met and where both their standards and skills test were not met) and those where the skills test has not been taken (including those whose standards were met and those whose standards were not met).  Source: TDA Performance Profiles. 
		
	
	
		
			  3 .  Employment-based routes (EBR)  trainee s 
			 Number of  EBR  final year trainees who have not gained QTS 
			   Total number of mainstream trainees in their final year  Number of mainstream final year trainees gaining QTS  Known not to have completed course  Undefined outcome  Other outcome  Total 
			 2001/02 2,440 2,210 30 0 190 230 
			 2002/03 4,030 3,670 340 0 20 360 
			 2003/04 4,950 4,470 440 0 30 470 
			 2004/05 7,220 6,600 260 0 350 610 
			 2005/06 6,970 6,090 420 0 450 870 
			 2006/07 7,840 7,120 350 0 380 720 
			  Notes: 1. Includes trainees through employment-based routes (EBR) only. 2. Numbers are individually rounded to the nearest 10 and therefore may not sum. 3. 'Other outcome' includes final year trainees who are yet to complete their course, those with withheld QTS (including those where their skills test were not met, their standards were not met and where both their standards and skills test were not met) and those where the skills test has not been taken (including those whose standards were met and those whose standards were not met).  Source: TDA Performance Profiles.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Fossil Fuels

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of potential coal, gas and oil reserves in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what plans there are for the construction of small-scale coal or gas-fired power stations in Afghanistan fuelled by that country's own resources.

Douglas Alexander: There are significant, unexploited deposits of coal, gas and oil in Afghanistan and the sector therefore represents an opportunity for both economic growth and rural development. Due to their experience in this sector the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and United States are the main supporters of mining and power generation projects. The Department for International Development's (DFID) development support in Afghanistan focuses upon support to state-building, economic management and sustainable livelihoods. We currently have no plans to fund the construction of power stations in Afghanistan.
	Between 2004 and 2008 DFID did, however, commit £4.2 million to support the work of the Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS). The AGS sits within the Ministry of Mines (MoM) and is responsible for assessing Afghanistan's natural resources as well as providing assistance and advice to the MoM.

Africa: Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 94-96W, on Africa: education, with which multilateral organisations the Government is working in each country referred to; how much funding his Department has allocated to each such organisation in each year it has been funded; how much and what proportion of such funding has been allocated to  (a) country systems and  (b) third parties; what objectives and key performance indicators have been set for the educational fast track initiative; which are the 18 countries expected to benefit from the scheme; what support his Department has provided to (i) teachers census in Sierra Leone, (ii) capacity technical assistance for joint educational sector support in Rwanda, (iii) the Association of African Universities initiative and (iv) the Revitalising Education Association for Development of Education in Africa: Books Work Group; what steps his Department has undertaken to determine the quality of education provision in each of the sub-Saharan countries; and how many new schools for primary children have been funded by each country referred to in the answer as a result of his Department's intervention.

Ivan Lewis: As stated in the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 94-96W, the Department for International Development (DFID) provides core funding to a number of multilateral organisations that work to develop education in Africa. This core funding is not sector or country-specific but is our contribution to the organisations' overall programme budgets. The organisations manage their own development programmes and DFID is not directly involved. It is not therefore possible to attribute our funding to specific projects or programmes. However, to provide a further indication of the destination of UK Government aid, DFID uses the overall proportions of Official Development Assistance reported by the relevant agencies to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to impute a UK contribution.
	The principal organisations concerned, the UK Government core contributions to them and the imputed UK share of multilateral official development assistance for education in Africa for 2006-07 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Multilateral organisation  UK core contributions 2006-07  Imputed UK share of multilateral ODA for education on Africa 
			 International Development Association (World Bank) 493 27.0 
			 African Development Fund 147 12.9 
			 European Commission 1,123 9.4 
			 UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) 19 0.6 
			  Note: It is not possible to disaggregate how our contributions to these organisations have been allocated in terms of the delivery methodology. 
		
	
	The Education for All—Fast Track Initiative (FTI), was established in 2002. The FTI is a partnership consisting of all the major donors in education, over 30 developing countries and five major civil society organisations. It seeks to accelerate progress towards the millennium development goals of universal primary education and gender parity in education by 2015 through providing further aid and building local capacity. FTI works by forming a compact between development partners based on the principle of one country, one plan, one process. National government with donor partners prepare an education sector development plan linked to the broader poverty reduction strategy and the budget. This is evaluated against the FTI indicative framework and endorsed if found to be compliant. FTI endorsement of national plans provides an assurance to donors that those plans are credible and bankable thereby encouraging bilateral and multilateral investment. The indicative framework also provides the basis for ongoing national progress monitoring.
	FTI partners expect the FTI to contribute to increasing access to good quality education for all, particularly girls and address the particular challenges of education in fragile states. The FTI process follows best practice on harmonisation and alignment in line with the Monterrey Consensus and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness resulting in increased impact and reduced transaction costs. Further details on FTI are available on the FTI website at
	http://www.education-fast-track.org/
	There are now 19 African countries that have benefited from funding from within the FTI Umbrella. Eighteen of these (Benin, Cameroon, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal and Sierra Leone) have received support as a result of a fully endorsed plan through the Catalytic Fund. Liberia has received support from the UNICEF administered transition fund established to meet the needs of fragile states that are not in a position to prepare the detailed plans demanded for Catalytic Fund support. The Central African Republic is currently in the advance stages of securing Transition Fund support.
	As set out in the answer of 6 October 2008, we are providing support to the Teacher Census in Sierra Leone, to the Capacity Building Technical Assistance for the Joint Education Sector Support Project in Rwanda, to the Association of African Universities Revitalising Education Initiative and to the Association for Development of Education in Africa Books Working Group.
	Further details of this support are as follows:
	
		
			  Project title  Budget (£000)  Duration  Project purpose 
			 Sierra Leone: Support to Teacher Census 750 20 March 2008 to 30 April 2008 To support the Ministry of Education to undertake schools survey in Sierra Leone to enhance an effective education management information system (EMIS) 
			 
			 Rwanda: Capacity Building Technical Assistance for Joint Education Sector Support 300 22 July 2005 to 31 December 2010 An increasingly effective, efficient and inclusive education system provides accessible, good quality education relevant to Rwanda's social, economic and cultural development needs 
			 
			 Association of African Universities: Revitalising Education 3,500 12 December 2006 to 1 June 2010 To support a capacity building programme to promote and enhance the networking role of the Association of African Universities (AAU) in relation to leading regional and national African associations in higher education 
			 
			 Association for Development of Education in Africa: Books Working Group 220 1 July 2004 to 1 February 2008 Capacity building and networking between Government Ministries, NGOs, funding agencies and the private sector to promote effective book sector planning and management in Africa 
		
	
	Improving the quality of education in Africa continues to be a concern in all countries where DFID supports education. It has long been a key consideration in the design of our interventions in the education sector. Some of the main areas where qualitative improvements are targeted include enhancing the quality of teachers, reducing class sizes, improving both the content and the availability of textbooks, providing more supplementary reading material and improving the monitoring of learning achievement through diagnostic testing and primary school examinations. These and other factors that contribute to improved education services in Africa should be priority areas in the support that we are providing to education and we will continue to ensure that they remain so.
	In addition, DFID is funding an education research consortium on Education Quality (£2.5 million, 2005-10), led by Bristol University. This is investigating different aspects of education quality (eg school effectiveness, language and literacy issues) in partnership with the Universities of Bath, Witwatersrand, Cape Coast and Dar es Salaam and the Kigali Institute of Education.
	The nature of our involvement in the education sector varies from country to country. In some, our support is through general or sectoral budget support, whereas in others it is through technical assistance or through third parties such as UNICEF or NGOs. We cannot therefore generally attribute construction of schools directly to DFID's funding. However, some examples of what is being achieved are:
	In Tanzania, we provide General Budget Support of which 18 per cent. is allocated to the education sector, with half of that going to primary education. In 2007-08, the Tanzanian Government built a total of 1,263 classrooms, 277 teacher's houses and 939 pit latrines for primary schools.
	In Kenya, we contribute more than a third of the US$325 million of donor funding supporting the Education Sector Support Programme, the Kenyan Government's five-year sector plan for 2005 to 2010. It covers 23 investment areas, of which primary school infrastructure is one. These funds have enabled the following to be achieved to date:
	4 new primary schools completed and a further 16 are 80 per cent. complete.
	4,000 primary schools have received infrastructure improvement grants which have enabled the following
	1,882 new classrooms built, 3,868 classrooms refurbished and 32,406 new desks supplied
	4,200 new latrines built.
	1.7 million children have benefited from the infrastructure programme so far and a further 500 schools will receive infrastructure grants within the next two months.
	In Malawi, it is possible to attribute the construction of 602 primary classrooms and 157 teachers' houses to DFID funding in 2007-08. A further 654 primary classrooms and 291 houses are planned for this year. Some 4,000 classrooms have been constructed since 2001.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what IT projects his Department is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of  (a) the cost and  (b) the completion date of each is.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently undertaking the following IT projects:
	The ARIES Finance, Reporting and Procurement system provides a centralised enterprise resource planning system for all DFID users. The current total contract value is £17.6 million and the project is due to complete in September 2009.
	The Web Transformation project aims to bring DFID's website into line with new Government guidelines and updated content management processes. The most recent cost estimate is £2.5 million and the project is anticipated to finish in July 2009.
	The Knowledge and Information Management Programme has a current cost estimate of £6.8 million and is due to complete in March 2011.
	The Information Technology Infrastructure Programme (ITIP) aims to improve DFID's global IT infrastructure. The current cost estimate is £5.0 million with the programme due to complete in March 2011.
	DFID has also a number of smaller IT projects. Provision of details for these projects would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press and communications officers are employed by his Department.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 663W. There are currently seven press officers employed at the Department for International Development (DFID).
	Communication is integral to the work of the Department, and many staff in different teams in our two United Kingdom headquarters and network of overseas offices are involved in communication work. It is not, therefore, possible to identify all such staff without incurring disproportionate cost.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requirements his Department makes regarding user fees when funding national primary education plans in developing countries.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) expect the countries to which we provide direct support to have plans in place to remove tuition fees. To be successful, and to protect standards, the removal of fees needs to be part of a comprehensive, long-term plan for universal primary enrolment. Support from DFID, in the form of long-term predictable funding, is helping governments achieve this aim but other donors also need to provide long-term flexible funding to ensure the removal of primary tuition fees.
	Many of the countries that DFID prioritises for support have already removed tuition fees or are working towards their removal. The high cost of education is the biggest deterrent to poor families educating their children, particularly for girls. In addition to tuition fees, other direct costs include uniforms and textbooks, teachers' and Parent Teacher Association fees, transportation as well as 'hidden' costs such as lost household and/or paid labour. Such costs have a significant impact on whether and which children are educated.

Developing Countries: Teachers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on the International Monetary Fund's placing of caps on teacher recruitment in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Civil Society Organisations have regularly raised this issue and I agree it is important that wage ceilings do not restrict the ability of governments to hire teachers. The Department for International Development welcomes the recent changes agreed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to significantly reduce the use of wage ceilings. If any ceilings are agreed with the government as part of an IMF programme, they will need explicit justification and the need for them will be subject to regular reassessment. The IMF's new approach makes clear that ceilings should allow for full spending of higher aid flows and take measures to safeguard priority sectors, such as education.

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use his Department has made of Dorneywood for official engagements in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 90-91W.

Environment Protection: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 112W, on environment protection: overseas aid, who the signatories are to each voluntary partnership agreement; and in which countries the agreements will support improved forestry governance.

Gareth Thomas: The first Voluntary Partnership Agreement, between the European Union and Ghana, was signed by Mr. Stefano Manservisi, Director General for Development of the European Commission and the hon. Esther Obeng Dappah, Minister for lands, Forestry and Mines of Ghana. This Agreement has now entered the process of ratification by Ghana's Parliament and adoption and ratification by the European Council of Ministers representing the interests of all European Union member states. All subsequent Voluntary Partnership Agreements will be signed by representatives of the European Commission and the government of the country concerned. All Voluntary Partnership Agreements will support improved forest governance.

Global Cluster Appeal

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations shared the £2 million given by his Department via the Global Cluster Appeal; and what the arrangements were for distributing that funding.

Michael Foster: In 2007-08, the Department for International Development (DFID) provided £2 million to the UN's Global Cluster Appeal to agencies involved in the Protection, Camp Co-ordination/Camp Management (CC/CM), Emergency Shelter, and Logistics clusters.
	The breakdown of funding given to each organisation is as follows:
	
		
			  Cluster  Organisation  Allocation (£) 
			 Protection OCHA 500,000 
			 CC/CM UNHCR 500,000 
			 Emergency Shelter UNHCR 500,000 
			 Logistics WFP 500,000 
		
	
	The funds were disbursed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with each of the organisations.

Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 119-20W, on Pakistan: overseas aid, what progress the Pakistani financial inclusion programme has made on the raising of £50 million from the private financial sector to improve access to finance including in rural areas.

Douglas Alexander: The financial inclusion programme is a five year programme which has only just commenced. Resources from the private financial sector to improve access to credit have not yet started to flow. We expect that by June 2009 around £10 million will have been mobilised from the private sector, and the full £50 million will be available by the end of 2011.

Pakistan: Taxation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will offer Pakistan advice and assistance to enable it to widen its tax base and minimise the scope for evasion; and if he will make development assistance from the UK conditional on Pakistani government action to increase the proportion of those liable for taxes who pay them.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development highlights the importance of Pakistan raising its current low level of tax revenue in our discussions about our development partnership arrangement, focusing on the need to increase taxes to finance public services for the poor.
	DFID has committed £12.4 million to a tax administration reform programme. This is strengthening the capacity of the Federal Board of Revenue to enforce and collect taxes. In addition, we have provided £400,000 for a study which is assessing Pakistan's tax policies and will make specific recommendations about improving existing taxes and introducing new ones.

Trade Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants in his Department were seconded to work for  (a) trades unions and  (b) the Trades Union Congress in each year since 2003.

Ivan Lewis: No civil servants from the Department for International Development (DFID) were seconded to work for  (a) trade unions and  (b) the Trades Union Congress since 2003.

UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the £0.5 million allocated to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs to improve accountability between the humanitarian co-ordinators based in a country receiving aid and emergency relief co-ordinators will be spent on.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £0.5 million over three years (2006-08) to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to help strengthen the humanitarian co-ordination system at field level.
	This contribution will assist in the establishment of a dedicated secretariat within OCHA focusing on the selection, induction, training of and support to humanitarian co-ordinators and field based humanitarian co-ordination structures.

Zimbabwe: Asylum

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the governments of states bordering Zimbabwe on the effect of food shortages in that country on the number of refugees entering their countries.

Ivan Lewis: Zimbabwe's social and economic decline has forced many Zimbabweans to leave the country. The vast majority of these migrants leave by irregular means, making it difficult to estimate numbers accurately. During the recent campaign of violence following the March elections, a significant increase in requests for asylum and refugee status in neighbouring countries, especially Botswana, was noted. The exodus of Zimbabweans as a result of oppression and humanitarian pressures is a regular topic of conversation in our dealings with neighbouring states.
	The Department for International Development's (DFID) office in Zimbabwe maintains regular contact with DFID offices in neighbouring states to monitor preparedness and policies in those countries related to irregular migration and refugees. Support to Zimbabwean migrants and refugees is currently being provided by DFID in Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the World Food Programme and other international agencies delivering humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe on ensuring that currency paid into the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is  (a) not siphoned off in any currency transactions and  (b) used for the purpose for which it was donated.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) works closely with international agencies to ensure they achieve the best value for money when delivering humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe and minimise the risks of pilfering and interference. The World Food Programme (WFP), its partner organisations and other international agencies operate bank accounts outside Zimbabwe and liquidate negligible amounts through local commercial banks. Most procurement of commodities and services is done externally through offshore accounts.
	The United Nation's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) maintains a robust system of monitoring for humanitarian funds and the implementation of agreed programmes. The UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator (HC) holds weekly monitoring meetings in order to track the delivery of assistance and use of humanitarian funds.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what checks he has in place on UK aid monies paid into the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to protect against siphoning off in currency transactions.

Ivan Lewis: No UK Government funds are transferred to the Government of Zimbabwe and no payments are made through the Reserve Bank. The Department for International Development (DFID) holds all aid funds in offshore accounts and we encourage our partners to do the same to prevent pilfering by the Reserve Bank. We aim to deliver DFID programmes using as little Zimbabwe currency as possible. Increasingly, as the economy declines, the use of foreign currency in Zimbabwe has become easier. Most of our procurement is done in foreign currency in accordance with EC rules and outside Zimbabwe. Goods are imported with tax and customs exemptions.
	Where funds have to be expended in local currency, money is transferred to local commercial banks for exchange at the best available rate and in small amounts at a time in order to preserve value. DFID holds regular discussions with NGOs and other implementing partners to ensure that they are able to operate without interference.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Leader of the House how many hon. Members will have received payments from the Parliamentary Pension Scheme this year by the end of the year.

Chris Bryant: There are currently 847 pensioners in receipt of a pension from the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund. Data on the likely number of pensioners during the remainder of 2008 are not available.